Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Annapurna

(Encyclopedia)Annapurna ən-nəpo͝orˈnə [key], massif of the Himalayas, N central Nepal, forming a ridge 35 mi (56 km) long, including two of the highest peaks in the world, Annapurna I (26,502 ft/8,078 m) in th...

skepticism

(Encyclopedia)skepticism skĕpˈtĭsĭzəm [key] [Gr.,=to reflect], philosophic position holding that the possibility of knowledge is limited either because of the limitations of the mind or because of the inaccess...

Coffin, Henry Sloane

(Encyclopedia)Coffin, Henry Sloane, 1877–1954, American Presbyterian clergyman, b. New York City. He was pastor of the Madison Ave. Presbyterian Church in New York City (1905–26), lecturer (1904–9), associate...

Touraine

(Encyclopedia)Touraine to͞orĕnˈ [key], region and former province (until the French Revolution), W central France, centering around Tours (the historic capital) and drained by the Loire, Cher, and Vienne rivers....

Lenglen, Suzanne

(Encyclopedia)Lenglen, Suzanne süzänˈ läNglĕnˈ [key], 1899–1938, French tennis player. She won the world hard-court singles and doubles titles in 1914. She was champion of French women's singles (1920–23,...

De Witt

(Encyclopedia)De Witt, uninc. town (2020 pop. 26,074), Onondaga co., central N.Y., a residential suburb of Syracuse.

Woodridge

(Encyclopedia)Woodridge, village (1990 pop. 26,256), Du Page co., NE Ill.; inc. 1959. It is a growing residential community W of Chicago, in a wooded and farm area. ...

halo, in meteorology

(Encyclopedia)halo, in meteorology, short-lived circles or arcs, and less commonly spikes and crosses, of colored or whitish light surrounding the moon or sun or in clouds as seen from above. A halo occurs when the...

Edwardsville

(Encyclopedia)Edwardsville, city (2020 pop. 26,808), seat of Madison co., SW Ill.; inc. 1819. It is mainly residential, with many citizens commuting to St. Louis. A c...

Wellesley

(Encyclopedia)Wellesley, town (1990 pop. 26,615), Norfolk co., E Mass., a residential suburb SW of Boston; settled 1660, inc. 1881. Its many educational institutions include several private preparatory schools, Bab...

Browse by Subject