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vacuum

(Encyclopedia)vacuum, theoretically, space without matter in it. A perfect vacuum has never been obtained; the best human-generated vacuums contain less than 100,000 gas molecules per cc, compared to about 30 billi...

Ekurhuleni

(Encyclopedia)Ekurhuleni, metropolitan municipality, Gauteng prov., NE South Africa. Ekurhuleni largely encompasses the East Rand region of Gauteng. Germiston is the ...

devaluation

(Encyclopedia)devaluation, decreasing the value of one nation's currency relative to gold or the currencies of other nations. It is usually undertaken as a means of correcting a deficit in the balance of payments. ...

Crocker, Charles

(Encyclopedia)Crocker, Charles, 1822–88, American railroad builder, b. Troy, N.Y. In 1836 he moved with his family to Marshall co., Ind., where he later set up a small foundry. He joined a party to seek gold in C...

Ciudad Bolívar

(Encyclopedia)Ciudad Bolívar syo͞oᵺäᵺˈ bōlēˈvär [key], city, capital of Bolívar state,...

Ciudad Guayana

(Encyclopedia)Ciudad Guayana gēănˈə, –änˈ– [key], formerly Santo Tomé de Guayana, city, ...

ice dancing

(Encyclopedia)ice dancing, ice-skating competition in which couples are required to perform dance routines to music. The sport gained popularity in the 1930s and the first world championships were held in 1950. Ice...

Heller, Joseph

(Encyclopedia)Heller, Joseph, 1923–99, American writer, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. Heller is best known for his first novel, Catch-22 (1961). Set in World War II, it is a darkly humorous commentary on the illogic of war a...

grayling

(Encyclopedia)grayling, common name for a brilliantly colored fish belonging to the genus Thymallus, of the family Salmonidae (salmon family), and closely allied to the smelt. Graylings are found chiefly in clear, ...

Frazier, Joe

(Encyclopedia)Frazier, Joe (William Joseph Frazier), 1944–2011, African-American boxer, b. Beaufort, S.C. Known for a brawling style and devastating left hook, “Smokin' Joe” won Olympic gold in 1964 and turne...