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Of no importance; answering no useful end; useless; vain; worthless. "Futile theories." I. Taylor. His reasoning . . . was singularly futile. Macaulay.

room for the exhibition of works of art; as, a picture gallery; hence, also, a large or important collection of paintings, sculptures, etc.

phous mineral of apple-green color; a hydrous silicate of nickel and magnesia. It is an important ore of nickel.

A complex mixture of gases, of which the most important constituents are marsh gas, olefiant gas, and hydrogen, artificially produced by the destructive distillation of gas coal, or sometimes of peat, wood, oil, resin, etc. It gives a brilliant light when burned, and is the common gas used for illuminating purposes.…

. It consists mainly of dilute hydrochloric acid and the ferment pepsin. It is the most important digestive fluid in the body, but acts only on proteid foods. -- Gastric remittent fever (Med.), a form of remittent fever with pronounced stomach symptoms.

a sliding gate which affords a straight passageway when open. -- Gate vein (Anat.), the portal vein. -- To break gates (Eng. Univ.), to enter a college inclosure after the hour to which a student has been restricted. -- To stand in the gate, or gates, to occupy places or advantage, power, or defense.…

A portable apparatus for making soda water or aërated liquids on a small scale. Knight.

character is that of dissolving in hot water, and forming a jelly on cooling. It is an important ingredient of calf's-foot jelly, isinglass, glue, etc. It is used as food, but its nutritious qualities are of a low order.

To produce glacial effects upon, as in the scoring of rocks, transportation of loose material, etc. Glaciated rocks, rocks whose surfaces have been smoothed, furrowed, or striated, by the action of ice.

lbe and the Vistula in the early part of the Christian era, and who overran and took an important part in subverting the Roman empire.

Having higher rank or more dignity, size, or importance than other persons or things of the same name; as, a grand lodge; a grand vizier; a grand piano, etc.

nus femurrubrum and C. atlanis) are closely related species, but their ravages are less important. They are closely related to the migratory locusts of the Old World. See Locust.

Of importance; momentous; weighty; influential; sedate; serious; - - said of character, relations, etc.; as, grave deportment, character, influence, etc. Most potent, grave, and reverend seigniors. Shak. A grave and prudent law, full of moral equity. Milton.

Importance, significance, dignity, etc; hence, seriousness; enormity; as, the gravity of an offense. They derive an importance from . . . the gravity of the place where they were uttered. Burke.

Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.

into the head of a sap, trenches, covered way, or upon besiegers mounting a breach. (b) A portable fire extinguisher consisting of a glass bottle containing water and gas. It is thrown into the flames. Called also fire grenade. Rampart grenades, grenades of various sizes, which, when used, are rolled over the pararapet…

hake or whiting is M. bilinearis. Two American species (Phycis chuss and P. tenius) are important food fishes, and are also valued for their oil and sounds. Called also squirrel hake, and codling.

ronectidæ. It often grows very large, weighing more than three hundred pounds. It is an important food fish. [Written also holibut.]

The long jump, with weights in the hands, -- the most important of the exercises of the Pentathlon.

Transportation by hauling; the distance through which anything is hauled, as freight in a railroad car; as, a long haul or short haul.