Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

rosin

(Encyclopedia)rosin or colophony, hard, brittle, translucent resin, obtained as a solid residue from crude turpentine. Usually pale yellow or amber, its color may vary from brownish-black to transparent depending o...

pyrimidine

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Pyrimidines found in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) pyrimidine pīrĭmˈĭdēnˌ [key], type of organic base found in certain coenzymes and in the nucleic acids of plant and animal tissue. The th...

Fairchild, David Grandison

(Encyclopedia)Fairchild, David Grandison, 1869–1954, American botanist and agricultural explorer, b. East Lansing, Mich. He entered the service of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, where he organized (1895) and late...

canning

(Encyclopedia)canning, process of hermetically sealing cooked food for future use. It is a preservation method, in which prepared food is put in glass jars or metal cans that are hermetically sealed to keep out air...

psychosis

(Encyclopedia)psychosis sīkōˈsĭs [key], in psychiatry, a broad category of mental disorder encompassing the most serious emotional disturbances, often rendering the individual incapable of staying in contact wi...

competition, in biology

(Encyclopedia)competition, in biology, relationship between members of the same or different species in which individuals are adversely affected by those having the same living requirements, such as food or space. ...

mojarra

(Encyclopedia)mojarra mōhärˈə [key], common name for a member of the family Gerreidae, small tropical food fishes. The many American species are found chiefly off the S Atlantic coast but also along the Pacific...

intestine

(Encyclopedia)intestine, muscular hoselike portion of the gastrointestinal tract extending from the lower end of the stomach (pylorus) to the anal opening. In humans this fairly narrow (about 1 in./2.5 cm) tubelike...

dye

(Encyclopedia)dye, any substance, natural or synthetic, used to color various materials, especially textiles, leather, and food. Natural dyes are so called because they are obtained from plants (e.g., alizarin, cat...

Harpy, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Harpy, in Greek mythology, winged women with sharp claws who snatched food, objects, or people.

Browse by Subject