Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Koop, C. Everett

(Encyclopedia)Koop, C. Everett (Charles Everett Koop), 1916–2013, American physician, U.S. surgeon general (1982–89), b. Brooklyn, N.Y., grad. Dartmouth (B.S., 1937), Cornell Medical College (M.D., 1941), Univ....

grinding

(Encyclopedia)grinding, process by which surface material is removed from an object, usually metal, by the abrasive action of a rotating wheel or a moving belt that contains abrasive grains. A grinding wheel can be...

ammonium group

(Encyclopedia)ammonium group, in chemistry, a positively charged nitrogen atom joined by single bonds to four other atoms or groups. The simplest ammonium group, NH4+, is formed by protonation of ammonia, NH3, e.g....

injection

(Encyclopedia)injection, introduction of a fluid into the body, usually by means of a needle and syringe. The material injected may be a test substance (as in determining allergic sensitivity or immunity to a disea...

Rawalpindi

(Encyclopedia)Rawalpindi räwəlpĭnˈdē [key], city (1998 pop. 1,406,214), NE Pakistan. It occupies the site of an old village inhabited by the Rawals, a tribe of Yogis. A railroad junction and an important indus...

Stockton

(Encyclopedia)Stockton, city (1990 pop. 210,943), seat of San Joaquin co., central Calif., on the San Joaquin River; inc. 1850. One of the fastest-growing U.S. cities during the late 20th cent., Stockton is an inla...

pillar

(Encyclopedia)pillar, freestanding columnar supporting member. It is a general term, little used as an exact architectural definition except as applied to an upright support in the medieval styles, consisting of an...

Slagelse

(Encyclopedia)Slagelse släˈyəlsə [key], city (1992 pop. 29,583), Vestsjælland co., S central Denmark. It is an industrial center and a rail junction, and is the site of a mint. The city has an 11th-century chu...

Langres

(Encyclopedia)Langres läNˈgrə [key], town (1990 pop. 11,026), Haute-Marne dept., NE France. An agricultural center, its manufactures include machinery and plastics. It has an old and famous cutlery industry. An ...

Kalocsa

(Encyclopedia)Kalocsa kŏˈlôchŏ [key], town (1991 est. pop. 18,200), S Hungary, near the Danube River. It is an agricultural center and is famed for its embroidery and paprika. Created a bishopric by St. Stephen...

Browse by Subject