Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Gray, Stephen

(Encyclopedia)Gray, Stephen, 1666–1736, English physicist. Gray, a dyer by trade, cultivated science as a hobby. In 1696 he published an account of a magnifying glass that interested the Royal Society and from th...

grisaille

(Encyclopedia)grisaille grĭzīˈ, –zālˈ, Fr. grēzäˈyə [key], a monochrome painting and drawing technique executed in tones of gray. Such works were often produced in the Renaissance to simulate sculpture, ...

Defiance

(Encyclopedia)Defiance, city (2020 pop. 17,066), seat of Defiance co., NW Ohio, at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee rivers, in a farm area; settled 1790, inc...

Chesterfield

(Encyclopedia)Chesterfield, city and district, Derbyshire, central England. An important industrial center, Chesterfield produces mining equipment, railroad cars, met...

Newcastle, city, Australia

(Encyclopedia)Newcastle, city (2016 pop. 155,411), New South Wales, SE Australia, on the Pacific Ocean. It is the center of one of the country's largest coal-mining areas and is a large port. Coal, wool, iron and s...

red lead

(Encyclopedia)red lead, bright red to orange-red powder, also called minium, that is used in the manufacture of storage batteries, lead glass, and red pigments; a paint made with red lead is commonly used to protec...

Randolph, Thomas, English poet and dramatist

(Encyclopedia)Randolph, Thomas, 1605–35, English poet and dramatist. After graduating from Cambridge in 1632, he went to London where he became a disciple of Ben Jonson. His best-known poems are “A Gratulatory ...

Statesville

(Encyclopedia)Statesville, city (1990 pop. 17,567), seat of Iredell co., W central N.C., on a plateau in the Blue Ridge foothills; founded 1789, inc. 1847. It is a commercial and industrial center in an agricultura...

Wettingen

(Encyclopedia)Wettingen vĕtˈĭng-ən [key], town (1990 pop. 17,706), Aargau canton, N Switzerland. It is the site of the Zürich power station and of industries that produce textiles and metal goods. In the town ...

whitewash

(Encyclopedia)whitewash, white fluid commonly used as an inexpensive, impermanent coating for walls, fences, stables, and other exterior structures. It varies in composition, being generally a mixture of lime (quic...