Search the Dictionary

Extremely minute; tiny. Atomic philosophy, or Doctrine of atoms, a system which assuming that atoms are endued with gravity and motion accounted thus for the origin and formation of all things. This philosophy was first broached by Leucippus, was developed by Democritus, and afterward improved by Epicurus, and hence is…

The act of reducing to atoms, or very minute particles; or the state of being so reduced.

ldspar, a variety of oligoclase with internal firelike reflections due to the presence of minute crystals, probably of hematite; sunstone.

A small image of an infant; a doll. Babies in the eyes, the minute reflection which one sees of one's self in the eyes of another. She clung about his neck, gave him ten kisses, Toyed with his locks, looked babies in his eyes. Heywood.

One of the minute bodies seen in the divided nucleoli of some Infusoria after conjugation.

A very minute barb or beard. Booth.

Trupanea apivora) which feeds upon the honeybee. See Robber fly. -- Bee louse (Zoöl.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect (Braula cæca) parasitic on hive bees. -- Bee martin (Zoöl.), the kingbird (Tyrannus Carolinensis) which occasionally feeds on bees. -- Bee moth (Zoöl.), a moth (Galleria cereana) whose larvæ fe…

Minute acicular or dendritic crystalline forms sometimes observed in glassy volcanic rocks.

ve material inclosed in a varnished wrapping of rope or hose. It burns from 2 to 4 feet a minute.

ifilar balance. Bifilar micrometer (often called a bifilar), an instrument form measuring minute distances or angles by means of two very minute threads (usually spider lines), one of which, at least, is movable; -- more commonly called a filar micrometer.

h usually bear numerous vesicles in the divisions of the leaves. These serve as traps for minute animals. See Ascidium.

A small, burrowing, snakelike, limbless lizard (Anguis fragilis), with minute eyes, popularly believed to be blind; the slowworm; -- formerly a name for the adder. Newts and blindworms do no wrong. Shak.

m, and ericaceous genus, differing from the American huckleberries in containing numerous minute seeds instead of ten nutlets. The commonest species are V. Pennsylvanicum and V. vacillans. V. corymbosum is the tall blueberry.

An instrument for measuring minute quantities of radiant heat, especially in different parts of the spectrum; -- called also actinic balance, thermic balance. S. P. Langley.

Any minute fungus which produces a burnt appearance in plants. The brands are of many species and several genera of the order Pucciniæi.

The minute marine animals (chiefly Entomostraca) upon which the right whales feed.

dor, emitting a brownish vapor at the ordinary temperature. In combination it is found in minute quantities in sea water, and in many saline springs. It occurs also in the mineral bromyrite.

A minute bronchial tube.

A class of Molluscoidea, including minute animals which by budding form compound colonies; -- called also Polyzoa.

A minute canal.