SOLAR a.
group of celestial bodies which, held by its attraction, revolve round it. The system comprises the major planets, with their satellites; the minor planets, or asteroids, and the comets; also, the meteorids, the matter that furnishes the zodiacal light, and the rings of Saturn. The satellites that revolve about the maj…
SOOT n.
bstance formed by combustion, or disengaged from fuel in the process of combustion, which rises in fine particles, and adheres to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke; strictly, the fine powder, consisting chiefly of carbon, which colors smoke, and which is the result of imperfect combustion. See Smoke.…
SPAR n.
door. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spar buoy (Naut.), a buoy anchored by one end so that the other end rises above the surface of the water. -- Spar deck (Naut.), the upper deck of a vessel; especially, in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which spare spars ar…
SPECULATIVE a.
pertaining to speculation in land, goods, shares, etc.; as, a speculative dealer or enterprise. The speculative merchant exercises no one regular, established, or well-known branch of business. A. Smith. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ly, adv. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ness, n.
STAMP n.
f the duty or tax being a stamp. [Eng.] -- Stamp hammer, a hammer, worked by power, which rises and falls vertically, like a stamp in a stamp mill. -- Stamp head, a heavy mass of metal, forming the head or lower end of a bar, which is lifted and let fall, in a stamp mill. -- Stamp mill (Mining), a mill in which ore i…