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(Physics) The widening and duplication, triplication, etc., of spectral lines when the radiations emanate in a strong magnetic field, first observed in 1896 by P. Zeeman, a Dutch physicist, and regarded as an important confirmation of the electromagnetic theory of light.n. A British volunteer cavalry force, growing out of a royal regiment of fox hunters raised by Yorkshire gentlemen in 1745 to fight the Pretender, Charles Edward. The members furnish their own horses, have fourteen days’ annual camp training, and receive pay and allowance when on duty. In 1901 the name was altered to imperial yeomanry in recognition of the services of the force in the Boer war. See Army organization, above.n. Act of wriggling; a short or quick writhing motion or contortion. { Wyn , Wynn , n. Also Wen }. [AS. wen.] One of the runes adopted into the Anglo-Saxon, or Old English, alphabet. It had the value of modern English w, and was replaced from about a. d. 1280 at first by uu, later by w. X. { Xan´thine , n. Also Xan´thin }. [Gr. xanqo•s yellow.] (Physiol. Chem.) A white microcrystalline nitrogenous compound, C5H4O2N4, present in muscle tissue, in the liver, spleen, pancreas and other organs, and also in urine (in small quantities) and some urinary calculi, and in the juices of certain plants; — so called because it leaves a yellow residue when evaporated to dryness with nitric acid. Xanthine is closely related to uric acid.n. — Bridge whist. See Bridge, n., above. — Duplicate whist, a form of whist in playing which the hands are preserved as dealt and played again by other players, as when each side holds in the second round the cards played by the opposing side in the first round. — Solo whist. See Solo whist, above.A gambling or lottery device consisting of a wheel which is spun horizontally, articles or sums to which certain marks on its circumference point when it stops being distributed according to varying rules.(Acoustics) Flexible rods the period of vibration of which in two planes at right angles are in some exact ratio to one another. When one end of such a rod is fixed, the free end describes in vibrating the corresponding Lissajous figure. So called because devised by Sir Charles Wheatstone.(Meteor.) A station for taking meteorological observations, making weather forecasts, or disseminating such information. Such stations are of the first order when they make observations of all the important elements either hourly or by self-registering instruments; of the second order when only important observations are taken; of the third order when simpler work is done, as to record rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures. { Wedge gauge gage }. A wedge with a graduated edge, to measure the width of a space into which it is thrust.
a. (Elec.) Without any power (cf. Watt); — said of an alternating current or component of current when it differs in phase by ninety degrees from the electromotive force which produces it, or of an electromotive force or component thereof when the current it produces differs from it in phase by 90 degrees.
A water hole in the bed of an intermittent stream, esp. the bowl at the foot of a cliff over which the stream leaps when in the flood stage. [Western U. S.]A metal hammer used when heated, as by dipping in hot water, to blister the skin, as for counterritation.If the word "when" is not on the list, please select another dictionary, search in titles, ask a question or add a word to the dictionary.
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