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A tree, or a branch of a tree, fixed in the bottom of a river or other navigable water, and rising nearly or quite to the surface, by which boats are sometimes pierced and sunk.

Especially, the hollow tube or place in which a candle is fixed in the candlestick. And in the sockets oily bubbles dance. Dryden. Socket bolt (Mach.), a bolt that passes through a thimble that is placed between the parts connected by the bolt. -- Socket chisel. Same as Framing chisel. See under Framing. -- Socket pi…

first, of a mirror for reflecting a beam of sunlight through the tube, which sometimes is fixed in a window shutter; secondly, of a condenser, or large lens, for converging the beam upon the object; and, thirdly, of a small lens, or magnifier, for throwing an enlarged image of the object at its focus upon a screen in a…

so firmly adhering, as to resist the impression or penetration of other bodies; having a fixed form; hard; firm; compact; -- opposed to fluid and liquid or to plastic, like clay, or to incompact, like sand.

rst hollows the bar and then expands the cavity by forcing the bar over a pointed mandrel fixed in front of the rolls; - - said of a weldless tube.

Firmly fixed in, or founded upon, the thruth; true; genuine; real; also, truthful; faithful. [Archaic] -- Sooth"fast`ness, n. [Archaic] "In very soothfastness." Chaucer. Why do not you . . . bear leal and soothfast evidence in her behalf, as ye may with a clear conscience! Sir W. Scott.

analysis effected by comparison of the different relative positions and qualities of the fixed lines of spectra produced by flames in which different substances are burned or evaporated, each substance having its own characteristic system of lines. -- Thermal spectrum, a spectrum of rays considered solely with refere…

long a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point called the pole. Cf. Helix.

A small extent of space; a place; any particular place. "Fixed to one spot." Otway. That spot to which I point is Paradise. Milton. "A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! But something ails it now: the spot is cursed." Wordsworth.

A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.

Fixedness; -- as opposed to Ant: fluidity. Since fluidness and stability are contary qualities. Boyle.

Firmly established; not easily moved, shaken, or overthrown; fixed; as, a stable government. In this region of chance, . . . where nothing is stable. Rogers.

In a stable manner; firmly; fixedly; steadily; as, a government stably settled.

The piece of timber to which a martyr was affixed to be burned; hence, martyrdom by fire.

A stand; a station; a fixed spot; hence, the stand or place where a horse or an ox kept and fed; the division of a stable, or the compartment, for one horse, ox, or other animal. "In an oxes stall." Chaucer.

The fixed, firm part of a body, which supports it or gives it strength and solidity; as, the bones are the stamina of animal bodies; the ligneous parts of trees are the stamina which constitute their strength.

Hence, a stamped or printed device, issued by the government at a fixed price, and required by law to be affixed to, or stamped on, certain papers, as evidence that the government dues are paid; as, a postage stamp; a receipt stamp, etc.

To be at rest in an erect position; to be fixed in an upright or firm position; as:

Not movable; fixed; as, a standing bed (distinguished from a trundle-bed). Standing army. See Standing army, under Army. -- Standing bolt. See Stud bolt, under Stud, a stem. -- Standing committee, in legislative bodies, etc., a committee appointed for the consideration of all subjects of a particular class which shal…

A fixed point or station; a basis or fundamental principle; a position from which objects or principles are viewed, and according to which they are compared and judged.