Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

obsidian

(Encyclopedia)obsidian ŏbsĭdˈēən [key], a volcanic glass, homogeneous in texture and having a low water content, with a vitreous luster and a conchoidal fracture. The color is commonly black, but may be some s...

Hawkesbury

(Encyclopedia)Hawkesbury, town, SE Ont., Canada, on the Ottawa River. It has lumber and paper mills and manufactures clothing, glass, and prefabricated homes. ...

firing

(Encyclopedia)firing, process of treating clay or other plastic ceramic materials with heat to produce a hard, durable but brittle material such as pottery. Primitive potters baked their clay in an open fire, but f...

greenhouse

(Encyclopedia)greenhouse, enclosed glass house used for growing plants in regulated temperatures, humidity, and ventilation. A greenhouse can range from a small room carrying a few plants over the winter, to an imm...

hydrogen fluoride

(Encyclopedia)hydrogen fluoride, chemical compound, HF, a colorless, fuming liquid or colorless gas that boils at 19.54℃. It is miscible with water and is soluble in benzene, toluene, and concentrated sulfuric ac...

Nouvel, Jean

(Encyclopedia)Nouvel, Jean zhäN no͞ovĕlˈ [key], 1945–, French architect, grad. École des Beaux-Arts, Paris (1971). He opened his own firm in 1975, and became known for innovative techniques, the use of moder...

thermometer

(Encyclopedia)thermometer, instrument for measuring temperature. Galileo and Sanctorius devised thermometers consisting essentially of a bulb with a tubular projection, the open end of which was immersed in a liqui...

silica

(Encyclopedia)silica or silicon dioxide, chemical compound, SiO2. It is insoluble in water, slightly soluble in alkalies, and soluble in dilute hydrofluoric acid. Pure silica is colorless to white. It occurs in sev...

Holliston

(Encyclopedia)Holliston, town (2020 pop. 14,996), Middlesex co., E Mass.; settled c.1659, inc. 1724. Its manufactures include plastics, glass, wood, paper goods, and ...

Dolton

(Encyclopedia)Dolton, village (2020 pop. 22,006), Cook co., NE Ill., on the Little Calumet River, S of Chicago; settled 1832, inc. 1892. Steel, aluminum products, gla...

Browse by Subject