AbstractPhil/geometric-vocab-english-full-a-to-z huggingface dataset:
castor: a genus of rodents, including the beaver. see beaver.-castoreum. see castoreum.-a hat, esp. one made of beaver fur; a beaver.-a heavy quality of broadcloth for overcoats.-see caster, a small wheel.-the northernmost of the two bright stars in the constellation gemini, the other being pollux.-alt. of castorite
castor bean: the bean or seed of the castor-oil plant (ricinus communis, or palma christi.)
castor oil: a mild cathartic oil, expressed or extracted from the seeds of the ricinus communis, or palma christi. when fresh the oil is inodorous and insipid.
castoreum: a peculiar bitter orange-brown substance, with strong, penetrating odor, found in two sacs between the anus and external genitals of the beaver; castor; -- used in medicine as an antispasmodic, and by perfumers.
castrametation: the art or act of encamping; the making or laying out of a camp.
castrate: to deprive of the testicles; to emasculate; to geld; to alter.-to cut or take out; esp. to remove anything erroneous, or objectionable from, as the obscene parts of a writing; to expurgate.
castrato: a male person castrated for the purpose of improving his voice for singing; an artificial, or male, soprano.
casual: happening or coming to pass without design, and without being foreseen or expected; accidental; fortuitous; coming by chance.-coming without regularity; occasional; incidental; as, casual expenses.-one who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.
casualty: that which comes without design or without being foreseen; contingency.-any injury of the body from accident; hence, death, or other misfortune, occasioned by an accident; as, an unhappy casualty.-numerical loss caused by death, wounds, discharge, or desertion.
casuarina: a genus of leafless trees or shrubs, with drooping branchlets of a rushlike appearance, mostly natives of australia. some of them are large, producing hard and heavy timber of excellent quality, called beefwood from its color.
casuist: one who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry.-to play the casuist.
casuistry: the science or doctrine of dealing with cases of conscience, of resolving questions of right or wrong in conduct, or determining the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do by rules and principles drawn from the scriptures, from the laws of society or the church, or from equity and natural reason; the application of general moral rules to particular cases.-sophistical, equivocal, or false reasoning or teaching in regard to duties, obligations, and morals.
casus: an event; an occurrence; an occasion; a combination of circumstances; a case; an act of god. see the note under accident.
cat: an animal of various species of the genera felis and lynx. the domestic cat is felis domestica. the european wild cat (felis catus) is much larger than the domestic cat. in the united states the name wild cat is commonly applied to the bay lynx (lynx rufus) see wild cat, and tiger cat.-a strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting quarters, and deep waist. it is employed in the coal and timber trade.-a strong tackle used to draw an anchor up to the cathead of a ship.-a double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever position in is placed.-an old game; (a) the game of tipcat and the implement with which it is played. see tipcat. (c) a game of ball, called, according to the number of batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.-a cat o' nine tails. see below.-to bring to the cathead; as, to cat an anchor. see anchor.
cat's-eye: a variety of quartz or chalcedony, exhibiting opalescent reflections from within, like the eye of a cat. the name is given to other gems affording like effects, esp. the chrysoberyl.
cat's-foot: a plant (nepeta glechoma) of the same genus with catnip; ground ivy.
cat's-paw: a light transitory air which ruffles the surface of the water during a calm, or the ripples made by such a puff of air.-a particular hitch or turn in the bight of a rope, into which a tackle may be hooked.-a dupe; a tool; one who, or that which, is used by another as an instrument to a accomplish his purposes.
cat-harping: one of the short ropes or iron cramps used to brace in the shrouds toward the masts so a to give freer sweep to the yards.
cat-hole: one of two small holes astern, above the gunroom ports, through which hawsers may be passed.
cat-salt: a sort of salt, finely granulated, formed out of the bittern or leach brine.
cat-tail: a tall rush or flag (typha latifolia) growing in marshes, with long, flat leaves, and having its flowers in a close cylindrical spike at the top of the stem. the leaves are frequently used for seating chairs, making mats, etc. see catkin.
cata: the latin and english form of a greek preposition, used as a prefix to signify down, downward, under, against, contrary or opposed to, wholly, completely; as in cataclysm, catarrh. it sometimes drops the final vowel, as in catoptric; and is sometimes changed to cath, as in cathartic, catholic.
catacaustic: relating to, or having the properties of, a caustic curve formed by reflection. see caustic, a.-a caustic curve formed by reflection of light.
catachresis: a figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by which a word is wrested from its true signification; as, "to take arms against a sea of troubles". shak. "her voice was but the shadow of a sound." young.
catachrestical: belonging to, or in the manner of, a catachresis; wrested from its natural sense or form; forced; far-fetched.
cataclysm: an extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge.-any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes of the earth's surface.
cataclysmist: one who believes that the most important geological phenomena have been produced by cataclysms.
catacomb: a cave, grotto, or subterraneous place of large extent used for the burial of the dead; -- commonly in the plural.
catacoustic: that part of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds or echoes see acoustics.
catadioptrical: pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light.
catadioptrics: the science which treats of catadioptric phenomena, or of the used of catadioptric instruments.
catadromous: having the lowest inferior segment of a pinna nearer the rachis than the lowest superior one; -- said of a mode of branching in ferns, and opposed to anadromous.-living in fresh water, and going to the sea to spawn; -- opposed to anadromous, and said of the eel.
catafalque: a temporary structure sometimes used in the funeral solemnities of eminent persons, for the public exhibition of the remains, or their conveyance to the place of burial.
cataian: a native of cathay or china; a foreigner; -- formerly a term of reproach.
catalan: of or pertaining to catalonia.-a native or inhabitant of catalonia; also, the language of catalonia.
catalectic: wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect foot; as, a catalectic verse.-incomplete; partial; not affecting the whole of a substance.
catalepsis: a sudden suspension of sensation and volition, the body and limbs preserving the position that may be given them, while the action of the heart and lungs continues.
cataleptic: pertaining to, or resembling, catalepsy; affected with catalepsy; as, a cataleptic fit.
catallacta: a division of protozoa, of which magosphaera is the type. they exist both in a myxopod state, with branched pseudopodia, and in the form of ciliated bodies united in free, spherical colonies.
catalogue: a list or enumeration of names, or articles arranged methodically, often in alphabetical order; as, a catalogue of the students of a college, or of books, or of the stars.-to make a list or catalogue; to insert in a catalogue.
catalpa: a genus of american and east indian trees, of which the best know species are the catalpa bignonioides, a large, ornamental north american tree, with spotted white flowers and long cylindrical pods, and the c. speciosa, of the mississipi valley; -- called also indian bean.
catalysis: dissolution; degeneration; decay.-a process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. it is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of soluble ferments (as diastase, or ptyalin) on starch.-the catalytic force.
catalytic: relating to, or causing, catalysis.-an agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium chloride, etc.
catamaran: a kind of raft or float, consisting of two or more logs or pieces of wood lashed together, and moved by paddles or sail; -- used as a surf boat and for other purposes on the coasts of the east and west indies and south america. modified forms are much used in the lumber regions of north america, and at life-saving stations.-any vessel with twin hulls, whether propelled by sails or by steam; esp., one of a class of double-hulled pleasure boats remarkable for speed.-a kind of fire raft or torpedo bat.-a quarrelsome woman; a scold.
catamount: the cougar. applied also, in some parts of the united states, to the lynx.
catanadromous: ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as the salmon; anadromous.
catapasm: a compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc.
catapetalous: having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow.
cataphonics: that branch of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds; catacoustics.
cataphract: defensive armor used for the whole body and often for the horse, also, esp. the linked mail or scale armor of some eastern nations.-a horseman covered with a cataphract.-the armor or plate covering some fishes.
cataphracted: covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.
cataplasm: a soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of the body; a poultice.
catapult: an engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient greeks and romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.-a forked stick with elastic band for throwing small stones, etc.
cataract: a great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.-an opacity of the crystalline lens, or of its capsule, which prevents the passage of the rays of light and impairs or destroys the sight.-a kind of hydraulic brake for regulating the action of pumping engines and other machines; -- sometimes called dashpot.
cataractous: of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.
catarrh: an inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and quality of mucus secreted; as, catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the bladder.
catarrhal: pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the nature of catarrh.
catarrhine: one of the catarrhina, a division of quadrumana, including the old world monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and turned downward. see monkey.
catastasis: that part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.-the state, or condition of anything; constitution; habit of body.
catastrophe: an event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune.-the final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy.-a violent and widely extended change in the surface of the earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by internal causes.
catastrophism: the doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.
catawba: a well known light red variety of american grape.-a light-colored, sprightly american wine from the catawba grape.
catawbas: an appalachian tribe of indians which originally inhabited the regions near the catawba river and the head waters of the santee.
catbird: an american bird (galeoscoptes carolinensis), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.
catboat: a small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a gaff and long boom. see illustration in appendix.
catcall: a sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise.
catch: to lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a ball.-to seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief.-to take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.-hence: to insnare; to entangle.-to seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody.-to communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.-to engage and attach; to please; to charm.-to get possession of; to attain.-to take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.-to come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.-to reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train.-to attain possession.-to be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.-to take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.-to spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate.-act of seizing; a grasp.-that by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.-the posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch.-that which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish.-something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony.-passing opportunities seized; snatches.-a slight remembrance; a trace.-a humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.
catch-basin: a cistern or vault at the point where a street gutter discharges into a sewer, to catch bulky matters which would not pass readily through the sewer.
catch-meadow: a meadow irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the side of hill.
catchdrain: a ditch or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.
catcher: one who, or that which, catches.-the player who stands behind the batsman to catch the ball.
catchfly: a plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. the species of silene are examples of the catchfly.
catching: of catch-infectious; contagious.-captivating; alluring.-the act of seizing or taking hold of.
catchpenny: made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show.-some worthless catchpenny thing.
catchword: among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.-the first word of any page of a book after the first, inserted at the right hand bottom corner of the preceding page for the assistance of the reader. it is seldom used in modern printing.-a word or phrase caught up and repeated for effect; as, the catchword of a political party, etc.
catchwork: a work or artificial water-course for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.
catechetical: relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching.
catechin: one of the tannic acids, extracted from catechu as a white, crystalline substance; -- called also catechuic acid, and catechuin.
catechise: to instruct by asking questions, receiving answers, and offering explanations and corrections, -- esp. in regard to points of religious faith.-to question or interrogate; to examine or try by questions; -- sometimes with a view to reproof, by eliciting from a person answers which condemn his own conduct.
catechism: a form of instruction by means of questions and answers.-a book containing a summary of principles, especially of religious doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and answers.
catechismal: of or pertaining to a catechism, having the form of questions and answers; catechetical.
catechistical: of or pertaining to a catechist or to a catechism.
catechu: a dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in india. it contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. it is also known by the names terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc.
catechuic: of or pertaining to catechu or its derivatives. see catechin.
catechumen: one who is receiving rudimentary instruction in the doctrines of christianity; a neophyte; in the primitive church, one officially recognized as a christian, and admitted to instruction preliminary to admission to full membership in the church.
catechumenate: the state or condition of a catechumen or the time during which one is a catechumen.
catechumenical: of or pertaining to catechumens; as, catechumenical instructions.
categorical: of or pertaining to a category.-not hypothetical or relative; admitting no conditions or exceptions; declarative; absolute; positive; express; as, a categorical proposition, or answer.
categorically: absolutely; directly; expressly; positively; as, to affirm categorically.
category: one of the highest classes to which the objects of knowledge or thought can be reduced, and by which they can be arranged in a system; an ultimate or undecomposable conception; a predicament.-class; also, state, condition, or predicament; as, we are both in the same category.
catelectrotonus: the condition of increased irritability of a nerve in the region of the cathode or negative electrode, on the passage of a current of electricity through it.
catenary: alt. of catenarian-the curve formed by a rope or chain of uniform density and perfect flexibility, hanging freely between two points of suspension, not in the same vertical line.
catenation: connection of links or union of parts, as in a chain; a regular or connected series. see concatenation.
catenulate: consisting of little links or chains.-chainlike; -- said both or color marks and of indentations when arranged like the links of a chain, as on shells, etc.
cater: a provider; a purveyor; a caterer.-to provide food; to buy, procure, or prepare provisions.-by extension: to supply what is needed or desired, at theatrical or musical entertainments; -- followed by for or to.-the four of cards or dice.-to cut diagonally.
caterpillar: the larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. the true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. some are hairy, others naked. they usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.-a plant of the genus scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars.
caterwaul: to cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive noise.-a caterwauling.
caterwauling: of caterwaul-the cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry like the cry of cats.
cates: provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food; delicacies; dainties.
catfish: a name given in the united states to various species of siluroid fishes; as, the yellow cat (amiurus natalis); the bind cat (gronias nigrilabrus); the mud cat (pilodictic oilwaris), the stone cat (noturus flavus); the sea cat (arius felis), etc.  this name is also sometimes applied to the wolf fish. see bullhrad.
catgut: a cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, esp. of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, etc.-a sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.
catharical: cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative.-of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic acid.
catharist: one aiming at or pretending to a greater purity of like than others about him; -- applied to persons of various sects. see albigenses.
catharsis: a natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.
cathartic: alt. of catharical-a medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a purgative of moderate activity.
cathartin: the bitter, purgative principle of senna. it is a glucoside with the properties of a weak acid; -- called also cathartic acid, and cathartina.
cathay: china; -- an old name for the celestial empire, said have been introduced by marco polo and to be a corruption of the tartar name for north china (khitai, the country of the khitans.)
cathead: a projecting piece of timber or iron near the bow of vessel, to which the anchor is hoisted and secured.
cathedra: the official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in high authority.
cathedral: the principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair (cathedra) or throne.-pertaining to the head church of a diocese; as, a cathedral church; cathedral service.-emanating from the chair of office, as of a pope or bishop; official; authoritative.-resembling the aisles of a cathedral; as, cathedral walks.
catherine wheel: same as rose window and wheel window. called also catherine-wheel window.-a revolving piece of fireworks resembling in form the window of the same name.
catheter: the name of various instruments for passing along mucous canals, esp. applied to a tubular instrument to be introduced into the bladder through the urethra to draw off the urine.
cathetometer: an instrument for the accurate measurement of small differences of height; esp. of the differences in the height of the upper surfaces of two columns of mercury or other fluid, or of the same column at different times. it consists of a telescopic leveling apparatus (d), which slides up or down a perpendicular metallic standard very finely graduated (bb). the telescope is raised or depressed in order to sight the objects or surfaces, and the differences in vertical height are thus shown on the graduated standard.
cathetus: one line or radius falling perpendicularly on another; as, the catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle.
cathode: the part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the negative pole; -- opposed to anode.
cathodic: a term applied to the centrifugal, or efferent, course of the nervous influence.
catholic: universal or general; as, the catholic faith.-not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic tastes.-of or pertaining to, or affecting the roman catholics; as, the catholic emancipation act.-a person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox christian church.-an adherent of the roman catholic church; a roman catholic.
catholicism: the state or quality of being catholic or universal; catholicity.-liberality of sentiment; breadth of view.-the faith of the whole orthodox christian church, or adherence thereto.-the doctrines or faith of the roman catholic church, or adherence thereto.