Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

radiology

(Encyclopedia)radiology, branch of medicine specializing in the use of X rays, gamma rays, radioactive isotopes, and other forms of radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. X ray machines and fluoroscop...

Pomo

(Encyclopedia)Pomo, Native Americans of N California, belonging to the Hokan branch of the Hokan-Siouan linguistic stock (see Native American languages). The Pomo were the most southerly Native Americans on the Cal...

Oshkosh

(Encyclopedia)Oshkosh ŏshˈkŏshˌ [key], city (1990 pop. 55,006), seat of Winnebago co., E Wis., on Lake Winnebago where the Upper Fox River enters; inc. 1846. Its manufactures include automobile parts, wood prod...

executive order

(Encyclopedia)executive order, in the United States, official document initiated and signed by the president containing directives concerning how the executive branch shall carry out its responsibilities under the ...

Lusignan

(Encyclopedia)Lusignan lüzēnyäNˈ [key], French noble family. The name is derived from a castle in Poitou, built, according to legend, by Mélusine. The family was powerful in the Middle Ages and ruled (13th–1...

Algonquin

(Encyclopedia)Algonquin ălgŏngˈkwĭn, –kĭn [key], small group of Native North Americans. The name of the Algonquian branch of the Algonquian-Wakashan linguistic stock (to which they belonged) is derived from ...

Connellsville

(Encyclopedia)Connellsville kŏnˈəlzvĭlˌ [key], city (2020 pop. 7,031), Fayette co., SW Pa., on the Youghiogheny ...

Coachella Valley

(Encyclopedia)Coachella Valley kōˌəchĕlˈə [key], arid region, SE Calif., N of the Salton Sea. Water is brought into the region by artesian wells and by the Coachella Canal (123 mi/198 km long), a branch of th...

executive privilege

(Encyclopedia)executive privilege, exemption of the executive branch of government, or its officers, from having to give evidence, specifically, in U.S. law, the exemption of the president from disclosing informati...

Apalachee

(Encyclopedia)Apalachee ăpˌəlăchˈē [key], tribe of Native North Americans once centered about Apalachee Bay, NW Florida, belonging to the Muskogean branch of the Hokan-Siouan linguistic stock (see Native Amer...