Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

induction, in logic

(Encyclopedia)induction, in logic, a form of argument in which the premises give grounds for the conclusion but do not necessitate it. Induction is contrasted with deduction, in which true premises do necessitate t...

halakah

(Encyclopedia)halakah or halacha both: häläˈkhä, häläkhäˈ [key] [Heb.,=law], in Judaism, the body of law regulating all aspects of life, including religious ritual, familial and personal status, civil relat...

blasphemy

(Encyclopedia)blasphemy, in religion, words or actions that display irreverence toward or contempt for God or that which is held sacred. Blasphemy is regarded as an offense against the community to varying degrees,...

alien

(Encyclopedia)alien, in law, any person residing in one political community while owing allegiance to another. A procedure known as naturalization permits aliens to become citizens. Each nation establishes conditio...

Las Cruces

(Encyclopedia)Las Cruces läs kro͞oˈsĭs [key], city (1990 pop. 62,126), seat of Dona Ana co., SW N.Mex., on the Rio Grande, in a farm area irrigated by the Elephant Butte system; founded 1848, inc. 1907. It is t...

Red River, river, China and Vietnam

(Encyclopedia)Red River, Chinese Yuan Chiang, Vietnamese Song Hong, chief river of N Vietnam, 730 mi (1,175 km) long, rising in Yunnan prov., S China, and flowing southeast, in deep, narrow gorges, through N Vietna...

Falluja, Al

(Encyclopedia)Falluja, Al äl fälo͞oˈjə [key], town, Anbar prov., central Iraq, on the Euphrates. A strategic city ...

Green Revolution

(Encyclopedia)Green Revolution, term referring mainly to dramatic increases in cereal-grain yields in many developing countries beginning in the late 1960s, due largely to use of genetically improved varieties. Beg...

Pueblo, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Pueblo pwĕbˈlō, pyo͞oĕbˈlō [key], city (1990 pop. 98,640), seat of Pueblo co., S central Colo., on the Arkansas River in the foothills of the Rockies; inc. 1885. It is the center of shipping, r...

fumitory

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Climbing fumitory, Adlumia fungosa fumitory, common name for some members of the Fumariaceae, a family of herbs native to much of the Old World, especially temperate Eurasia. The family is clo...