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croton, in botany

(Encyclopedia)croton krōˈtən [key], any of several species of Codiaeum that are widely cultivated as ornamentals and houseplants. The most popular species is C. variegatum, which has many cultivated forms of hig...

bronze, in metallurgy

(Encyclopedia)bronze, in metallurgy, alloy of copper, tin, zinc, phosphorus, and sometimes small amounts of other elements. Bronzes are harder than brasses. Most are produced by melting the copper and adding the de...

illumination, in physics

(Encyclopedia)illumination, in physics: see lighting; photometry. ...

pitch, in aviation

(Encyclopedia)pitch, in aviation: see airplane; airfoil. ...

minister, in diplomacy

(Encyclopedia)minister, in diplomacy: see diplomatic service; extraterritoriality. ...

sublimation, in psychology

(Encyclopedia)sublimation, in psychology: see defense mechanism; psychoanalysis. ...

period, in physics

(Encyclopedia)period, in physics: see harmonic motion; wave. ...

Milky Way

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Position of the sun in the Milky Way Milky Way, the galaxy of which the sun and solar system are a part, seen as a broad band of light arching across the night sky from horizon to horizon; if ...

may, in botany

(Encyclopedia)may, name for several plants; in England, particularly the hawthorn. See also mayflower. ...

quadrant, in technology

(Encyclopedia)quadrant, in technology, angle-measuring device based on a scale of 90°. It is sometimes confused with the sextant, a similar instrument based on a scale of 60°. The quadrant is rarely used today. ...