Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Aeolis

(Encyclopedia)Aeolis ēōˈlēə [key], ancient region of the west coast of Asia Minor (in present-day Turkey). Aeolis was not a geographic term but a collective term for the cities founded there by the Aeolians, a...

Boston ivy

(Encyclopedia)Boston ivy or Japanese ivy, tall-climbing woody vine (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) from East Asia, one of the most popular of city wall coverings. Of the same genus as the Virginia creeper and sometim...

Lucullus

(Encyclopedia)Lucullus (Lucius Licinius Lucullus Ponticus) lo͞okŭlˈəs [key], c.110 b.c.–56 b.c., Roman general. He served in the Social War under Sulla, who made him his favorite. He fought in the East (87 b....

morning glory

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Morning glory, Convolvulus arvensis morning glory, common name for members of the Convolvulaceae, a family of herbs, shrubs, and small trees (many of them climbing forms) inhabiting warm regio...

lacquer

(Encyclopedia)lacquer, solution of film-forming materials, natural or synthetic, usually applied as an ornamental or protective coating. Quick-drying synthetic lacquers are used to coat automobiles, furniture, text...

madrasa

(Encyclopedia)madrasa or madrassah, in Islamic countries, a school, historically usually one devoted to higher education in religious studies, but the term may refer to any school. Privately endowed, often by royal...

Romulo, Carlos Peña

(Encyclopedia)Romulo, Carlos Peña kärˈlōs pāˈnä rōˈmo͞olō [key], 1899–1986, Philippine statesman and writer. With war between the United States and Japan approaching, Romulo toured (1941) East Asia and...

barrow, in archaeology

(Encyclopedia)barrow, in archaeology, a burial mound. Earth and stone or timber are the usual construction materials; in parts of SE Asia stone and brick have entirely replaced earth. A barrow built primarily of st...

Albuquerque, Afonso de

(Encyclopedia)Albuquerque, Afonso de əfôNˈzō dĭ əlbo͞okĕrˈkə, –də älˌbəkĕrˈkə [key], 1453–1515, Portuguese admiral, the effective founder of the Portuguese Empire in the East. He first went to ...

Ephesus

(Encyclopedia)Ephesus ĕfˈəsəs [key], ancient Greek city of Asia Minor, near the mouth of the Caÿster River (modern Küçük Menderes), in what is today W Turkey, S of Smyrna (now Izmir). One of the greatest of...