Search the Dictionary

The act of secreting; the process by which material is separated from the blood through the agency of the cells of the various glands and elaborated by the cells into new substances so as to form the various secretions, as the saliva, bile, and other digestive fluids. The process varies in the different glands, and hen…

The material of which sedimentary rocks are formed.

The act of depositing a sediment; specifically (Geol.), the deposition of the material of which sedimentary rocks are formed.

ction; agreeable or disagreeable feelings occasioned by objects that are not corporeal or material.

The poisoning of the system by the introduction of putrescent material into the blood.

oisoned condition of the blood produced by the absorption into it of septic or putrescent material; blood poisoning. It is marked by chills, fever, prostration, and inflammation of the different serous membranes and of the lungs, kidneys, and other organs.

A woolen twilled stuff, much used as material for clothing for both sexes. Silk serge, a twilled silk fabric used mostly by tailors for lining parts of gentlemen's coats.

A gelatinous nitrogenous material extracted from crude silk and other similar fiber by boiling water; -- called also silk gelatin.

The materials used for serving a rope, etc., as spun yarn, small lines, etc.

e yielding of the ground under the foundation, or by the compression of the joints or the material. (b) pl.

The material collected in, and discharged by, sewers. [In this sense sewage is preferable and common.]

ment. Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want. Addison. Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never yeL. Watts.

blades, commonly with bevel edges, connected by a pivot, and working on both sides of the material to be cut, -- used for cutting cloth and other substances. Fate urged the shears, and cut the sylph in twain. Pope.

The casing or covering of a ship's bottom and sides; the materials for such covering; as, copper sheathing.

The act or process of forming into sheets, or flat pieces; also, material made into sheets.

A flat tablet or ledge of any material set horizontally at a distance from the floor, to hold objects of use or ornament.

Material for shelves; shelves, collectively.

A series of close parallel runnings which are drawn up so as to make the material between them set full by gatherings; -- called also shirring, and gauging.

A loose under-garment for the upper part of the body, made of cotton, linen, or other material; -- formerly used of the under- garment of either sex, now commonly restricted to that worn by men and boys. Several persons in December had nothing over their shoulders but their shirts. Addison. She had her shirts and girdl…

A costume consisting of a plain belted waist and skirt of the same material.