Ce -symbol

  1. cerium

CE -abbr

  1. chemical engineer
  2. civil engineer
  3. Christian Era often punctuated; Common Era often punctuated
  4. Corps of Engineers

CEA -abbr

  1. College English Association
  2. Council of Economic Advisors

ce·a·no·thus [,sē-ə-'nō-thəs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Ceanothus) of American vines, shrubs, and small trees of the buckthorn family having the calyx disk adherent to the ovary

cease ['sēs] -vb

  1. to cause to come to an end esp. gradually : no longer continue
    • they were forced to cease operations
    • cease to exist
  2. to come to an end
    • the fighting gradually ceased
  3. to bring an activity or action to an end : discontinue
    • they have been ordered to cease and desist
  4. to become extinct : die out
  5. cessation usu. used with without

cease and desist order -n

  1. an order from an administrative agency to refrain from a method of competition or a labor practice found by the agency to be unfair

ceasefire ['sēs-'fi(-ə)r] -n

  1. a military order to cease firing
  2. a suspension of active hostilities

cease·less ['sēs-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. continuing without cease : constant
    • ceaseless efforts

ce·cro·pia moth [si-'krō-pē-ə-] -n

  1. a large No. American saturniid moth ( Hyalophora cecropia) that is brown with red, white, and black markings

ce·cum ['sē-kəm] -n, adj, adv

  1. a cavity open at one end (as the blind end of a duct)
  2. the blind pouch at the beginning of the large intestine into which the ileum opens from one side and which is continuous with the colon

CED -abbr

  1. Committee for Economic Development

ce·dar ['sē-dər] -n, adj

  1. any of a genus ( Cedrus) of usu. tall coniferous trees (as the cedar of Lebanon or the deodar) of the pine family noted for their fragrant durable wood
  2. any of numerous coniferous trees (as of the genera Juniperus, Chamaecyparis,or Thujaof the cypress family) that resemble the true cedars esp. in the fragrance and durability of their wood
  3. the wood of a cedar

ce·darap·ple rust ['sē-dər-'a-pəl-] -n

  1. a gall-producing disease esp. of the apple caused by a rust fungus ( Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) that completes the first part of its life cycle on the common red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana) and the second on the leaves and fruit of the apple

ce·dar·bird [-,bərd] -n

  1. cedar waxwing

ce·darn ['sē-dərn] -adj

  1. made or suggestive of cedar

cedar of Leb·a·non [-'leb-nän, -'le-bə-, -nən]

  1. a long-lived cedar ( Cedrus libani) native to Asia Minor with short fascicled leaves and erect cones

cedar waxwing -n

  1. a brown gregarious American waxwing ( Bombycilla cedrorum) with a yellow band on the tip of the tail and a pale yellow belly

ce·dar·wood ['sē-dər-,wu̇d] -n

  1. the wood of a cedar that is esp. repellent to insects

cede ['sēd] -vt, n

  1. to yield or grant typically by treaty
  2. assign, transfer

ce·dil·la [si-'di-lə] -n

  1. the diacritical mark placed under a letter (as in French) to indicate an alteration or modification of its usual phonetic value (as in the French word faade)

cee ['sē] -n

  1. the letter c

cef·tri·ax·one [,sef-,trī-'ak-,sōn] -n

  1. a broad-spectrum semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic C 18H 18N 8O 7S 3administered parenterally in the form of its sodium salt

cei·ba ['sā-bə] -n

  1. a massive tropical tree ( Ceiba pentandra) of the silk-cotton family with large pods filled with seeds invested with a silky floss that yields the fiber kapok
  2. kapok

ceil ['sēl] -vt

  1. to furnish (as a wooden ship) with a lining
  2. to furnish with a ceiling

cei·lidh ['kā-lē] -n

  1. a party with music, dancing, and often storytelling

ceil·ing ['sē-liŋ] -n, adj

  1. the overhead inside lining of a room
  2. material used to ceil a wall or roof of a room
  3. something thought of as an overhanging shelter or a lofty canopy
    • a ceiling of stars
  4. the height above the ground from which prominent objects on the ground can be seen and identified
  5. the height above the ground of the base of the lowest layer of clouds when over half of the sky is obscured
  6. absolute ceiling
  7. service ceiling
  8. an upper usu. prescribed limit
    • a ceiling on prices, rents, and wages

ceil·om·e·ter [sē-'lä-mə-tər] -n

  1. a photoelectric instrument for determining by triangulation the height of the cloud ceiling above the earth

cein·ture [saⁿ(n)-'tyu̇r, -'tu̇r, 'san-chər] -n

  1. a belt or sash for the waist

cel ['sel] -n

  1. a transparent sheet of celluloid on which objects are drawn or painted in the making of animated cartoons

cel·a·don ['se-lə-,dän, -lə-dᵊn] -n

  1. a grayish-yellow green
  2. a ceramic glaze originated in China that is greenish in color
  3. an article with a celadon glaze

cel·an·dine ['se-lən-,dīn, -,dēn] -n

  1. a yellow-flowered Eurasian biennial herb ( Chelidonium majus) of the poppy family naturalized in the eastern U.S.
  2. lesser celandine

ce·leb [sə-'leb] -n

  1. celebrity

cel·e·brant ['se-lə-brənt] -n

  1. one who celebrates
  2. the priest officiating at the Eucharist

cel·e·brate ['se-lə-,brāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to perform (a sacrament or solemn ceremony) publicly and with appropriate rites
  2. to honor (as a holiday) esp. by solemn ceremonies or by refraining from ordinary business
  3. to mark (as an anniversary) by festivities or other deviation from routine
  4. to hold up or play up for public notice
    • her poetry celebrate s the glory of nature
  5. to observe a holiday, perform a religious ceremony, or take part in a festival
  6. to observe a notable occasion with festivities

cel·e·brat·ed -adj, n

  1. widely known and often referred to
    • a celebrated author

ce·leb·ri·ty [sə-'le-brə-tē] -n

  1. the state of being celebrated : fame
  2. a famous or celebrated person

ce·leb·u·tante [sə-'le-byu̇-,tänt] -n

  1. a debutante who has attracted such media attention as to be considered a celebrity

ce·le·ri·ac [sə-'ler-ē-,ak, -'lir-] -n

  1. a celery ( Apium graveolens rapaceum) grown for its knobby edible root

ce·ler·i·ty [sə-'ler-ə-tē, -'le-rə-] -n

  1. rapidity of motion or action

cel·ery ['se-lə-rē, 'sel-rē] -n

  1. a European herb ( Apium graveolens) of the carrot family
  2. one of a cultivated variety ( A. graveolens dulce) with leafstalks eaten raw or cooked

celery cabbage -n

  1. chinese cabbage

celery root -n

  1. celeriac

ce·les·ta [sə-'les-tə, chə-] -n

  1. a keyboard instrument with hammers that strike steel plates producing a tone similar to that of a glockenspiel

ce·les·tial [sə-'les-chəl, -'lesh-, -'les-tē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or suggesting heaven or divinity
    • celestial beings
  2. of or relating to the sky or visible heavens
    • the sun, moon, and stars are celestial bodies
  3. ethereal, otherworldly
    • celestial music
  4. olympian, supreme
  5. of or relating to China or the Chinese

celestial -n

  1. a heavenly or mythical being
  2. chinese

celestial equator -n

  1. the great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles

celestial globe -n

  1. a globe depicting the celestial bodies

celestial hierarchy -n

  1. a traditional hierarchy of angels ranked from lowest to highest into the following nine orders: angels, archangels, principalities, powers, virtues, dominions, thrones, cherubim, and seraphim

celestial marriage -n

  1. a special order of Mormon marriage solemnized in a Mormon temple and held to be binding for a future life as well as the present one

celestial navigation -n

  1. navigation by observation of the positions of celestial bodies

celestial pole -n

  1. either of the two points on the celestial sphere around which the diurnal rotation of the stars appears to take place

celestial sphere -n

  1. an imaginary sphere of infinite radius against which the celestial bodies appear to be projected and of which the apparent dome of the visible sky forms half

ce·les·tite ['se-ləs-,tīt, sə-'les-,tīt] -n

  1. a usu. white mineral consisting of the sulfate of strontium

ce·li·ac ['sē-lē-,ak] -adj

  1. of or relating to the abdominal cavity

celiac disease -n

  1. a chronic hereditary intestinal disorder in which an inability to absorb the gliadin portion of gluten results in the gliadin triggering an immune response that damages the intestinal mucosa called also celiac sprue

cel·i·ba·cy ['se-lə-bə-sē] -n

  1. the state of not being married
  2. abstention from sexual intercourse
  3. abstention by vow from marriage

cel·i·bate ['se-lə-bət] -n, adj

  1. a person who lives in celibacy

cell ['sel] -n

  1. a small religious house dependent on a monastery or convent
  2. a one-room dwelling occupied by a solitary person (as a hermit)
  3. a single room (as in a convent or prison) usu. for one person
  4. : a small compartment, cavity, or bounded space: as
  5. one of the compartments of a honeycomb
  6. a membranous area bounded by veins in the wing of an insect
  7. a small usu. microscopic mass of protoplasm bounded externally by a semipermeable membrane, usu. including one or more nuclei and various other organelles with their products, capable alone or interacting with other cells of performing all the fundamental functions of life, and forming the smallest structural unit of living matter capable of functioning independently
  8. a receptacle containing electrodes and an electrolyte either for generating electricity by chemical action or for use in electrolysis
  9. fuel cell
  10. a single unit in a device for converting radiant energy into electrical energy or for varying the intensity of an electrical current in accordance with radiation
  11. a unit in a statistical array (as a spreadsheet) formed by the intersection of a column and a row
  12. a basic and usu. small unit of an organization or movement
    • terrorist cell s
  13. a portion of the atmosphere that behaves as a unit
    • a storm cell
  14. any of the small sections of a geographic area of a cellular telephone system
  15. cell phone

cel·lar ['se-lər] -n

  1. basement
  2. the lowest grade or rank
  3. the lowest place in the standings (as of an athletic league)
    • the team spent most of last year in the cellar
  4. a stock of wines

cellar -vt

  1. to put into a cellar (as for storage)
    • cellar ing wine

cel·lar·age ['se-lə-rij] -n

  1. cellar space esp. for storage

cel·lar·er ['se-lər-ər] -n

  1. an official (as in a monastery) in charge of provisions

cel·lar·ette [,se-lə-'ret] -n

  1. a case or sideboard for holding bottles of wine or liquor

cellar master -n

  1. a person who supervises the making of wine in a winery

cell body -n

  1. the nucleus-containing central part of a neuron exclusive of its axons and dendrites

cell cycle -n

  1. the complete series of events from one cell division to the next compare g 1 phase g 2 phase

cell division -n

  1. the process by which cells multiply involving both nuclear and cytoplasmic division

celled ['seld] -adj

  1. having (such or so many) cells used in combination
    • single- celled organisms

cell line -n

  1. a cell culture selected for uniformity from a cell population derived from a usu. homogeneous tissue source (as an organ)
    • a newly established cell line derived from a human endometrial carcinoma -- Biol. Abstracts

cellme·di·at·ed ['sel-'mē-dē-,ā-təd] -adj

  1. relating to or being the part of immunity or the immune response that is mediated primarily by T cells

cell membrane -n

  1. a membrane of a cell
  2. plasma membrane

cel·lo ['che-(,)lō] -n

  1. the bass member of the violin family tuned an octave below the viola

cel·lo·bi·ose [,se-lə-'bī-,ōs, -,ōz] -n

  1. a faintly sweet disaccharide C 12H 22O 11obtained by partial hydrolysis of cellulose

cel·loi·din [se-'lȯi-dᵊn] -n

  1. a purified pyroxylin used chiefly in microscopy

cel·lo·phane ['se-lə-,fān] -n

  1. regenerated cellulose in thin transparent sheets used esp. for packaging

cellophane noodle -n

  1. a translucent noodle made from mung beans

cell phone -n

  1. a portable usu. cordless telephone for use in a cellular system

cell plate -n

  1. a disk formed in the phragmoplast of a dividing plant cell that eventually forms the middle lamella of the wall between the daughter cells

cell sap -n

  1. the liquid contents of a plant cell vacuole
  2. cytosol

cell theory -n

  1. a theory in biology that includes one or both of the statements that the cell is the fundamental structural and functional unit of living matter and that the organism is composed of autonomous cells with its properties being the sum of those of its cells

cel·lu·lar ['sel-yə-lər] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or consisting of cells
  2. containing cavities : having a porous texture
    • cellular rocks
  3. of, relating to, or being a radiotelephone system in which a geographical area (as a city) is divided into small sections each served by a transmitter of limited range
    • cellular phones

cellular -n

  1. cell phone

cel·lu·lase ['sel-yə-,lās, -,lāz] -n

  1. an enzyme that hydrolyzes cellulose

cel·lule ['sel-(,)yül] -n

  1. a small cell

cel·lu·lite ['sel-yə-,līt, -,lēt] -n

  1. deposits of subcutaneous fat within fibrous connective tissue (as in the thighs, hips, and buttocks) that give a puckered and dimpled appearance to the skin surface

cel·lu·li·tis [,sel-yə-'lī-təs] -n

  1. diffuse and esp. subcutaneous inflammation of connective tissue

cel·lu·loid ['sel-yə-,lȯid] -n, adj

  1. a tough flammable thermoplastic composed essentially of cellulose nitrate and camphor
  2. a motion-picture film
    • a work...making its third appearance on celluloid -- John McCarten

cel·lu·lo·lyt·ic [,sel-yə-lō-'li-tik] -adj

  1. hydrolyzing or having the capacity to hydrolyze cellulose

cel·lu·lose ['sel-yə-,lōs, -,lōz] -n

  1. a polysaccharide (C 6H 10O 5) x of glucose units that constitutes the chief part of the cell walls of plants, occurs naturally in such fibrous products as cotton and kapok, and is the raw material of many manufactured goods (as paper, rayon, and cellophane)

cellulose acetate -n

  1. any of several compounds insoluble in water that are formed esp. by the action of acetic acid, anhydride of acetic acid, and sulfuric acid on cellulose and are used for making textile fibers, packaging sheets, photographic films, and varnishes

cellulose nitrate -n

  1. nitrocellulose

cel·lu·los·ic [,sel-yə-'lō-sik, -zik] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or made from cellulose

cell wall -n

  1. the usu. rigid nonliving permeable wall that surrounds the plasma membrane and encloses and supports the cells of most plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae

ce·lo·sia [sē-'lō-zh(ē-)ə] -n

  1. any of a genus (Celosia)of tropical annual herbs (as cockscomb) of the amaranth family that have alternate leaves and showy flower spikes often forming feathery clusters in cultivated forms

Cel·si·us ['sel-sē-əs, -shəs] -adj

  1. relating to, conforming to, or having the international thermometric scale on which the interval between the triple point of water and the boiling point of water is divided into 99.99 degrees with 0.01 representing the triple point and 100 the boiling point
    • 10 Celsius
  2. centigrade abbr. C

celt ['selt] -n

  1. a prehistoric stone or metal implement shaped like a chisel or ax head

Celt ['kelt, 'selt] -n

  1. a member of a division of the early Indo-European peoples distributed from the British Isles and Spain to Asia Minor
  2. a modern Gael, Highland Scot, Irishman, Welshman, Cornishman, or Breton

Celt·ic ['kel-tik, 'sel-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Celts or their languages

Celtic -n

  1. a group of Indo-European languages usu. subdivided into Brythonic and Goidelic and now largely confined to Brittany, Wales, Ireland, and the Scottish Highlands

Celtic cross -n

  1. a cross having essentially the form of a Latin cross with a ring about the intersection of the crossbar and upright shaft

Celt·i·cist ['kel-tə-sist, 'sel-] -n

  1. a specialist in Celtic languages or cultures

cem·ba·lo ['chem-bə-,lō] -n

  1. harpsichord

ce·ment [si-'ment also 'sē-ment] -n

  1. concrete
  2. a powder of alumina, silica, lime, iron oxide, and magnesium oxide burned together in a kiln and finely pulverized and used as an ingredient of mortar and concrete
  3. any mixture used for a similar purpose
  4. : a binding element or agency: as
  5. a substance to make objects adhere to each other
  6. something serving to unite firmly
    • justice is the cement that holds a political community together -- R. M. Hutchins
  7. cementum
  8. a plastic composition made esp. of zinc or silica for filling dental cavities
  9. the fine-grained groundmass or glass of a porphyry

cement -vt, n

  1. to unite or make firm by or as if by cement
  2. to overlay with concrete
  3. to become cemented

ce·men·ta·tion [,sē-,men-'tā-shən] -n

  1. a process of surrounding a solid with a powder and heating the whole so that the solid is changed by chemical combination with the powder
  2. the act or process of cementing : the state of being cemented

ce·ment·ite [si-'men-,tīt] -n

  1. a hard brittle iron carbide Fe 3C that occurs in steel, cast iron, and iron-carbon alloys

ce·men·ti·tious [,sē-,men-'ti-shəs] -adj

  1. having the properties of cement

ce·men·tum [si-'men-təm] -n

  1. a specialized bony layer of connective tissue covering the dentin of the part of a tooth normally within the gum

cem·e·tery ['se-mə-,ter-ē, -,te-rē] -n

  1. a burial ground

CEMF -abbr

  1. counter electromotive force

cen·a·cle ['se-ni-kəl] -n

  1. a retreat house
  2. one for Roman Catholic women directed by nuns of the Society of Our Lady of the Cenacle

ce·no·bite ['se-nə-,bīt, 'sē-] -n, adj

  1. a member of a religious group living together in a monastic community

ceno·taph ['se-nə-,taf, -,täf] -n

  1. a tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere

ce·no·te [si-'nō-tē] -n

  1. a deep sinkhole in limestone with a pool at the bottom that is found esp. in Yucatan

Ce·no·zo·ic [,sē-nə-'zō-ik, ,se-] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being an era of geological history that extends from the beginning of the Tertiary period to the present time and is marked by a rapid evolution of mammals and birds and of angiosperms and esp. grasses and by little change in the invertebrates
  2. relating to the corresponding system of rocks

cense ['sen(t)s] -vt

  1. to perfume esp. with a censer

cen·ser ['sen(t)-sər] -n

  1. a vessel for burning incense
  2. a covered incense burner swung on chains in a religious ritual

cen·sor ['sen(t)-sər] -n, adj

  1. : a person who supervises conduct and morals: as
  2. an official who examines materials (as publications or films) for objectionable matter
  3. an official (as in time of war) who reads communications (as letters) and deletes material considered sensitive or harmful
  4. one of two magistrates of early Rome acting as census takers, assessors, and inspectors of morals and conduct
  5. a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness

censor ['sen(t)-sə-riŋ, 'sen(t)s-riŋ] -vt

  1. to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable
    • censor the news
  2. to suppress or delete as objectionable
    • censor out indecent passages

cen·so·ri·ous [sen-'sȯr-ē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by or given to censure
    • censorious comments
    • a censorious critic

cen·sor·ship ['sen(t)-sər-,ship] -n

  1. the institution, system, or practice of censoring
  2. the actions or practices of censors
  3. censorial control exercised repressively
  4. the office, power, or term of a Roman censor
  5. exclusion from consciousness by the psychic censor

cen·sur·able ['sen(t)-sh(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj

  1. deserving or open to censure
    • censurable behavior

cen·sure ['sen(t)-shər] -n

  1. a judgment involving condemnation
  2. opinion, judgment
  3. the act of blaming or condemning sternly
  4. an official reprimand

censure ['sen(t)-sh(ə-)riŋ] -vt, n

  1. estimate, judge
  2. to find fault with and criticize as blameworthy

cen·sus ['sen(t)-səs] -n, vt

  1. a count of the population and a property evaluation in early Rome
  2. a usu. complete enumeration of a population
  3. a periodic governmental enumeration of population
  4. count, tally

cent ['sent] -n

  1. a monetary unit equal to of a basic unit of value see birr, dollar, euro, leone, lilangeni, nakfa, rand, rupee, shilling at
  2. a coin, token, or note representing one cent
  3. the fen of the People's Republic of China
  4. centigrade
  5. central
  6. centum
  7. century

Cent -abbr

  1. Central

cen·tal ['sen-tᵊl] -n

  1. hundredweight

cen·tas ['sen-,täs] -n

  1. see litas at

cen·taur ['sen-,tȯr] -n

  1. any of a race of creatures fabled to be half human and half horse and to live in the mountains of Thessaly

cen·tau·rea [sen-'tȯr-ē-ə] -n

  1. any of a large genus ( Centaurea) of composite herbs (as bachelor's button) including several cultivated for their showy heads of tubular florets

Cen·tau·rus [-'tȯr-əs] -n

  1. a southern constellation between the Southern Cross and Hydra

cen·tau·ry ['sen-,tȯr-ē] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Centaurium) of low herbs of the gentian family
  2. an Old World herb ( C. crythraeasyn. C. umbellatum) that produces pink flowers and is used in herbal medicine

cen·ta·vo [sen-'tä-(,)vō] -n

  1. see boliviano, cordoba, lempira, peso, quetzal at
  2. a former monetary unit equal to Portuguese escudo
  3. see escudo, metical at

cen·te·nar·i·an [,sen-tə-'ner-ē-ən, -'ne-rē-] -n, adj

  1. one that is 100 years old or older

cen·te·na·ry [sen-'te-nə-rē, 'sen-tə-,ner-ē, -,ne-rē, esp Brit sen-'tē-nə-rē] -n, adj

  1. centennial

cen·ten·ni·al [sen-'te-nē-əl] -n, adj, adv

  1. a 100th anniversary or its celebration

cen·ter ['sen-tər, 'se-nər] -n, adj

  1. the point around which a circle or sphere is described
  2. a point that is related to a geometrical figure in such a way that for any point on the figure there is another point on the figure such that a straight line joining the two points is bisected by the original point called also center of symmetry
  3. the center of the circle inscribed in a regular polygon
  4. a point, area, person, or thing that is most important or pivotal in relation to an indicated activity, interest, or condition
    • a railroad center
    • the center of the controversy
  5. a source from which something originates
    • a propaganda center
  6. a group of neurons having a common function
    • respiratory center
  7. a region of concentrated population
    • an urban center
  8. a facility providing a place for a particular activity or service
    • a day-care center
  9. the middle part (as of the forehead or a stage)
  10. a grouping of political figures holding moderate views esp. between those of conservatives and liberals
  11. the views of such politicians
  12. the adherents of such views
  13. : a player occupying a middle position on a team: as
  14. the football player in the middle of a line who passes the ball between his legs to a back to start a down
  15. the usu. tallest player on a basketball team who usu. plays near the basket
  16. center field
  17. either of two tapered rods which support work in a lathe or grinding machine and about or with which the work revolves
  18. a conical recess in the end of work (as a shaft) for receiving such a center

center ['sen-t(ə-)riŋ, 'se-nər-iŋ] -vb

  1. to place or fix at or around a center or central area
    • center the picture on the wall
  2. to give a central focus or basis
    • center s her hopes on her son
    • the plot was center ed on espionage
  3. to adjust (as lenses) so that the axes coincide
  4. to pass (a ball or puck) from either side toward the middle of the playing area
  5. to hand or pass (a football) backward between one's legs to a back to start a down
  6. to play center on
    • center a line in hockey
  7. to have a specified center : focus

cen·ter·board ['sen-tər-,bȯrd, 'se-nər-] -n

  1. a retractable keel used esp. in sailboats

cen·tered ['sen-tərd, 'se-nərd] -adj, n

  1. having a center often used in combination
    • a dark- centered coneflower
  2. having a center of curvature often used in combination
    • a 3- centered arch
  3. emotionally stable and secure

center field -n

  1. the position of the player for defending center field
  2. the part of the baseball outfield between right and left field

cen·ter·fold ['sen-tər-,fōld, 'se-nər-] -n

  1. a foldout that is the center spread of a magazine
  2. a picture (as of a nude) on a centerfold
  3. a model featured in such a picture

cen·ter·line [-'līn, -,līn] -n

  1. a real or imaginary line that is equidistant from the surface or sides of something

center of curvature

  1. the center of the circle whose center lies on the concave side of a curve on the normal to a given point of the curve and whose radius is equal to the radius of curvature at that point

center of gravity

  1. center of mass
  2. the point at which the entire weight of a body may be considered as concentrated so that if supported at this point the body would remain in equilibrium in any position
  3. center

center of mass

  1. the point in a body or system of bodies at which the whole mass may be considered as concentrated

cen·ter·piece [-,pēs] -n

  1. an object occupying a central position
  2. an adornment in the center of a table
  3. one that is of central importance or interest in a larger whole
    • the centerpiece of a political agenda

center punch -n

  1. a hand punch consisting of a short steel bar with a hardened conical point at one end used for marking the centers of holes to be drilled

center stage -n, adj or adv

  1. the central part of a theatrical stage
  2. a central or highly prominent position
    • an issue that has taken center stage in the campaign

cen·tes·i·mal [sen-'te-sə-məl] -adj

  1. marked by or relating to division into hundredths

cen·tes·i·mo [chen-'te-zə-,mō] -n

  1. a former monetary unit equal to Italian lira
  2. see balboa, peso at

centi- -comb form

  1. hundred
    • centi pede
  2. one hundredth part of
    • centi meter

cen·ti·grade ['sen-tə-,grād, 'sän-] -adj

  1. relating to, conforming to, or having a thermometric scale on which the interval between the freezing point of water and the boiling point of water is divided into 100 degrees with 0 representing the freezing point and 100 the boiling point
    • 10 centigrade
    abbr. C

cen·time ['sän-,tēm, 'sen-] -n

  1. any of several former monetary units equal to franc (as of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg)
  2. see dinar, dirham, franc, gourde at

centimetergramsecond -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a system of units based on the centimeter as the unit of length, the gram as the unit of mass, and the second as the unit of time abbr. cgs

cen·ti·mo ['sen-tə-,mō] -n

  1. a former monetary unit equal to peseta
  2. see bolivar, colon, dobra, guarani, sol at

cen·ti·mor·gan ['sen-tə-,mȯr-gən, 'sän-] -n

  1. a genetic unit equivalent to of a morgan

cen·ti·pede ['sen-tə-,pēd] -n

  1. any of a class (Chilopoda) of long flattened many-segmented predaceous arthropods with each segment bearing one pair of legs of which the foremost pair is modified into poison fangs

cent·ner ['sent-nər] -n

  1. any of various units of weight used esp. in Europe and usu. equal to about 110 pounds (about 50 kilograms)

cen·to ['sen-(,)tō] -n

  1. a literary work made up of parts from other works

CENTO -abbr

  1. Central Treaty Organization

centr- -comb form

  1. center
    • centri fugal
    • centr oid

centra ['sen-trəm] -n

(variant of centrum)

  1. center
  2. the body of a vertebra ventral to the neural arch

cen·tral ['sen-trəl] -adj, adv

  1. containing or constituting a center
  2. of primary importance : essential, principal
    • the central character of the novel
  3. situated at, in, or near the center
  4. easily accessible from outlying districts
    • a central location for the new theater
  5. centrally placed and superseding separate scattered units
    • central heating
  6. controlling or directing local or branch activities
    • the central committee
  7. holding to a middle between extremes : moderate
  8. of, relating to, or comprising the brain and spinal cord
  9. originating within the central nervous system
    • central deafness

central -n

  1. a telephone exchange or operator
  2. a central office or bureau usu. controlling others
    • weather central
  3. a center or hub for a specified activity or group
    • her house is party central
    • the family room becomes kid central

central angle -n

  1. an angle formed by two radii of a circle

central bank -n

  1. a national bank that operates to establish monetary and fiscal policy and to control the money supply and interest rate

central casting -n

  1. the department of a movie studio responsible for casting actors esp. viewed as a source of people who are stereotypical of their role in appearance, behavior, or nature
    • a politician right out of central casting

central city -n

  1. a city that constitutes the densely populated center of a metropolitan area

cen·tral·ise ['sen-trə-,līz] -vb, n

(variant of centralize)

  1. to form a center : cluster around a center
  2. to bring to a center : consolidate
    • centralize all the data in one file
  3. to concentrate by placing power and authority in a center or central organization

cen·tral·ism ['sen-trə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. the concentration of power and control in the central authority of an organization (as a political or educational system)

cen·tral·i·ty [sen-'tra-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being central
  2. central situation
  3. tendency to remain in or at the center

cen·tral·ize ['sen-trə-,līz] -vb, n

  1. to form a center : cluster around a center
  2. to bring to a center : consolidate
    • centralize all the data in one file
  3. to concentrate by placing power and authority in a center or central organization

central limit theorem -n

  1. any of several fundamental theorems of probability and statistics that state the conditions under which the distribution of a sum of independent random variables is approximated by the normal distribution
  2. one which is much applied in sampling and which states that the distribution of a mean of a sample from a population with finite variance is approximated by the normal distribution as the number in the sample becomes large

central nervous system -n

  1. the part of the nervous system which in vertebrates consists of the brain and spinal cord, to which sensory impulses are transmitted and from which motor impulses pass out, and which coordinates the activity of the entire nervous system

central processing unit -n

  1. cpu

central tendency -n

  1. the degree of clustering of the values of a statistical distribution that is usu. measured by the arithmetic mean, mode, or median

central time -n

  1. the time of the sixth time zone west of Greenwich that includes the central U.S.

cen·tre ['sen-tər, 'se-nər] -n, adj

(variant of center)

  1. the point around which a circle or sphere is described
  2. a point that is related to a geometrical figure in such a way that for any point on the figure there is another point on the figure such that a straight line joining the two points is bisected by the original point called also center of symmetry
  3. the center of the circle inscribed in a regular polygon
  4. a point, area, person, or thing that is most important or pivotal in relation to an indicated activity, interest, or condition
    • a railroad center
    • the center of the controversy
  5. a source from which something originates
    • a propaganda center
  6. a group of neurons having a common function
    • respiratory center
  7. a region of concentrated population
    • an urban center
  8. a facility providing a place for a particular activity or service
    • a day-care center
  9. the middle part (as of the forehead or a stage)
  10. a grouping of political figures holding moderate views esp. between those of conservatives and liberals
  11. the views of such politicians
  12. the adherents of such views
  13. : a player occupying a middle position on a team: as
  14. the football player in the middle of a line who passes the ball between his legs to a back to start a down
  15. the usu. tallest player on a basketball team who usu. plays near the basket
  16. center field
  17. either of two tapered rods which support work in a lathe or grinding machine and about or with which the work revolves
  18. a conical recess in the end of work (as a shaft) for receiving such a center

cen·tric ['sen-trik] -adj, adv, n

  1. located in or at a center : central
    • a centric point
  2. concentrated about or directed to a center
    • a centric activity
  3. of, relating to, or having a centromere
  4. of, relating to, or resembling an order (Centrales) of radially symmetrical diatoms

cen·trif·u·gal [sen-'tri-fyə-gəl, -'tri-fi-, esp Brit ,sen-tri-'fyü-gəl] -adj, adv

  1. proceeding or acting in a direction away from a center or axis
  2. using or acting by centrifugal force
    • a centrifugal pump
  3. efferent
  4. tending away from centralization : separatist
    • centrifugal tendencies in modern society

centrifugal -n

  1. a centrifugal machine or a drum in such a machine

centrifugal force -n

  1. the apparent force that is felt by an object moving in a curved path that acts outwardly away from the center of rotation

cen·tri·fu·ga·tion [,sen-trə-fyü-'gā-shən, -f(y)ə-] -n

  1. the process of centrifuging

cen·tri·fuge ['sen-trə-,fyüj] -n

  1. a machine using centrifugal force for separating substances of different densities, for removing moisture, or for simulating gravitational effects

centrifuge -vt

  1. to subject to centrifugal action esp. in a centrifuge

cen·tri·ole ['sen-trē-,ōl] -n

  1. one of a pair of cellular organelles that occur esp. in animals, are adjacent to the nucleus, function in the formation of the spindle apparatus during cell division, and consist of a cylinder with nine microtubules arranged peripherally in a circle

cen·trip·e·tal [sen-'tri-pə-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. proceeding or acting in a direction toward a center or axis
  2. afferent
  3. tending toward centralization : unifying

centripetal force -n

  1. the force that is necessary to keep an object moving in a curved path and that is directed inward toward the center of rotation
    • a string on the end of which a stone is whirled about exerts centripetal force on the stone

cen·trist ['sen-trist] -n, adj

  1. a member of a center party
  2. a person who holds moderate views

cen·troid ['sen-,trȯid] -n

  1. center of mass
  2. a point whose coordinates are the averages of the corresponding coordinates of a given set of points and which for a given plane or three-dimensional figure (as a triangle or sphere) corresponds to the center of mass of a thin plate of uniform thickness and consistency or a body of uniform consistency having the same boundary

cen·tro·mere ['sen-trə-,mir] -n, adj

  1. the point or region on a chromosome to which the spindle attaches during mitosis and meiosis

cen·tro·some ['sen-trə-,sōm] -n

  1. centriole
  2. the centriole-containing region of clear cytoplasm adjacent to the cell nucleus

cen·tro·sym·met·ric [,sen-trə-sə-'me-trik] -adj

  1. symmetric with respect to a central point
    • centrosymmetric molecules
    • a centrosymmetric curve

cen·trum ['sen-trəm] -n

  1. center
  2. the body of a vertebra ventral to the neural arch

centu ['sen-,täs] -n

(variant of centas)

  1. see litas at

cen·tum ['ken-təm, -,tu̇m] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting an Indo-European language group in which the palatal stops did not in prehistoric times become palatal or alveolar fricatives

cen·tu·ri·on [sen-'chu̇r-ē-ən, -'tyu̇r-, -'tu̇r-] -n

  1. an officer commanding a Roman century

cen·tu·ry ['sen(t)-sh(ə-)rē] -n

  1. a subdivision of the Roman legion
  2. a group, sequence, or series of 100 like things
  3. a period of 100 years esp. of the Christian era or of the preceding period of human history
  4. a race over a hundred units (as yards or miles)

century plant -n

  1. a Mexican agave ( Agave americana) that takes many years to mature, flowers only once, and then dies

CEO [,sē-(,)ē-'ō] -n

  1. the executive with the chief decision-making authority in an organization or business

ceorl ['chā-,ȯrl] -n

  1. a freeman of the lowest rank in Anglo-Saxon England

cepe ['sēp, 'sep] -n

  1. porcini

cephal- -comb form

  1. head
    • cephal ad
    • cephalo pod

ceph·a·lad ['se-fə-,lad] -adv

  1. toward the head or anterior end of the body

ceph·a·lex·in [,se-fə-'lek-sən] -n

  1. a semisynthetic cephalosporin C 16H 17N 3O 4S with a spectrum of antibiotic activity similar to the penicillins

ce·phal·ic [sə-'fa-lik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the head
  2. directed toward or situated on or in or near the head

cephalic index -n

  1. the ratio multiplied by 100 of the maximum breadth from side to side of the head to its maximum length from front to back in living individuals

ceph·a·lin ['ke-fə-lən, 'se-] -n

  1. phosphatidylethanolamine

ceph·a·li·za·tion [,se-fə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. a tendency in the evolution of organisms to concentrate the sensory and neural organs in an anterior head

ceph·a·lom·e·try [,se-fə-'lä-mə-trē] -n, adj

  1. the science of measuring the head in living individuals

ceph·a·lo·pod ['se-fə-lə-,päd] -n, adj

  1. any of a class (Cephalopoda) of marine mollusks including the squids, cuttlefishes, and octopuses that move by expelling water from a tubular siphon under the head and that have a group of muscular usu. sucker-bearing arms around the front of the head, highly developed eyes, and usu. a sac containing ink which is ejected for defense or concealment

ceph·a·lor·i·dine [,se-fə-'lȯr-ə-,dēn, -'lär-] -n

  1. a semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic C 19H 17N 3O 4S 2derived from cephalosporin

ceph·a·lo·spo·rin [,se-fə-lə-'spȯr-ən] -n

  1. any of several antibiotics produced by an imperfect fungus (genus Acremoniumsyn. Cephalosporium)

ceph·a·lo·thin ['se-fə-lə-thən, -,thin] -n

  1. a semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from cephalosporin and used in the form of its sodium salt C 16H 15N 2NaO 6S 2

ceph·a·lo·tho·rax [,se-fə-lə-'thȯr-,aks] -n

  1. the united head and thorax of an arachnid or higher crustacean

Ce·phe·id ['se-f(ē-)id, 'sē-] -n

  1. any of a class of variable stars whose very regular light variations are related directly to their intrinsic luminosities and whose apparent luminosities are used to estimate distances in astronomy

Ce·pheus ['sē-,fyüs; 'sē-fē-əs, 'se-] -n

  1. a constellation between Cygnus and the north pole

ce·ram·ic [sə-'ra-mik, esp Brit kə-] -adj

  1. of or relating to the manufacture of any product (as earthenware, porcelain, or brick) made essentially from a nonmetallic mineral (as clay) by firing at a high temperature
  2. of or relating to such a product

ceramic -n

  1. the art or process of making ceramic articles
  2. a product of ceramic manufacture

cer·amide ['sir-ə-,mīd, 'ser-] -n

  1. any of various lipids formed by linking a fatty acid to sphingosine and found widely but in small amounts in plant and animal tissue

ce·ra·mist [sə-'ra-mist, 'ser-ə-] -n

  1. one who makes ceramic products or works of art

ce·rate ['sir-,āt] -n

  1. an unctuous preparation for external use consisting of wax or resin or spermaceti mixed with oil, lard, and medicinal ingredients

cer·a·top·sian [,sər-ə-'täp-sē-ən] -n, adj

  1. any of a suborder (Ceratopsia) of ornithischian dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous having horns, a sharp horny beak, and a bony frill projecting backward from the skull

Cer·ber·us ['sər-b(ə-)rəs] -n, adj

  1. a 3-headed dog that in Greek mythology guards the entrance to Hades

cer·car·ia [(,)sər-'ker-ē-ə] -n, adj

  1. a usu. tadpole-shaped larval trematode worm that develops in a molluscan host from a redia

cer·cus ['sər-kəs] -n

  1. either of a pair of simple or segmented appendages at the posterior end of various arthropods that usu. act as sensory organs

cere ['sir] -vt

  1. to wrap in or as if in a cerecloth
  2. a usu. waxy protuberance or enlarged area at the base of the bill of a bird

ce·re·al ['sir-ē-əl] -adj

  1. relating to grain or to the plants that produce it
  2. made of grain

cereal -n

  1. a plant (as a grass) yielding starchy grain suitable for food
  2. its grain
  3. a prepared foodstuff of grain (as oatmeal or cornflakes)

cereal leaf beetle -n

  1. a small reddish-brown black-headed Old World chrysomelid beetle ( Oulema melanopus) that feeds on cereal grasses and is a serious pest of U.S. grain crops

cer·e·bel·lum [,ser-ə-'be-ləm, ,se-rə-] -n, adj

  1. a large dorsally projecting part of the brain concerned esp. with the coordination of muscles and the maintenance of bodily equilibrium, situated between the brain stem and the back of the cerebrum, and formed in humans of two lateral lobes and a median lobe

cerebr- -comb form

  1. brain : cerebrum
    • cerebr ation
  2. cerebral and
    • cerebro spinal

ce·re·bral [sə-'rē-brəl, 'ser-ə-, 'se-rə-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the brain or the intellect
  2. of, relating to, affecting, or being the cerebrum
  3. appealing to intellectual appreciation
    • cerebral drama
  4. primarily intellectual in nature
    • a cerebral society

cerebral cortex -n

  1. the convoluted surface layer of gray matter of the cerebrum that functions chiefly in coordination of sensory and motor information

cerebral hemisphere -n

  1. either of the two hollow convoluted lateral halves of the cerebrum

cerebral palsy -n, adj

  1. a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances

cer·e·brate ['ser-ə-,brāt, 'se-rə-] -vi, n

  1. to use the mind : think

ce·re·bro·side ['ser-ə-brə-,sīd, 'se-rə-, sə-'rē-] -n

  1. any of various glycolipids found esp. in nerve tissue

ce·re·bro·spi·nal [sə-,rē-brō-'spī-nᵊl, ,ser-ə-brō-] -adj

  1. of or relating to the brain and spinal cord or to these together with the cranial and spinal nerves that innervate voluntary muscles

cerebrospinal fluid -n

  1. a colorless liquid that is comparable to serum, is secreted from the blood into the lateral ventricles of the brain, and serves chiefly to maintain uniform pressure within the brain and spinal cord

cerebrospinal meningitis -n

  1. inflammation of the meninges of both brain and spinal cord
  2. an infectious often epidemic and fatal meningitis caused by the meningococcus

ce·re·bro·vas·cu·lar [sə-,rē-brō-'vas-kyə-lər, ,ser-ə-brō-] -adj

  1. of or involving the cerebrum and the blood vessels supplying it

cerebrovascular accident -n

  1. stroke

ce·re·brum [sə-'rē-brəm, 'ser-ə-brem, 'se-rə-] -n

  1. brain
  2. an enlarged anterior or upper part of the brain
  3. the expanded anterior portion of the brain that in higher mammals overlies the rest of the brain, consists of cerebral hemispheres and connecting structures, and is considered to be the seat of conscious mental processes : telencephalon

cere·cloth ['sir-,klȯth] -n

  1. cloth treated with melted wax or gummy matter and formerly used esp. for wrapping a dead body

cere·ment ['ser-ə-mənt, 'se-rə-, 'sir-mənt] -n

  1. a shroud for the dead
  2. cerecloth usu. used in pl.

cer·e·mo·ni·al [,ser-ə-'mō-nē-əl, ,se-rə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. marked by, involved in, or belonging to ceremony : stressing careful attention to form and detail
    • ceremonial rites

ceremonial -n

  1. a ceremonial act, action, or system

cer·e·mo·ni·ous [,ser-ə-'mō-nē-əs, ,se-rə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. devoted to forms and ceremony
    • ceremonious courtiers
  2. of, relating to, or constituting a ceremony
    • a ceremonious occasion
  3. according to formal usage or prescribed procedures
    • the cold and ceremonious politeness of her curtsey -- Jane Austen
  4. marked by ceremony
    • a ceremonious procession

cer·e·mo·ny ['ser-ə-,mō-nē, 'se-rə-] -n

  1. a formal act or series of acts prescribed by ritual, protocol, or convention
    • the marriage ceremony
  2. a conventional act of politeness or etiquette
    • the ceremony of introduction
  3. an action performed only formally with no deep significance
  4. a routine action performed with elaborate pomp
  5. prescribed procedures : usages
    • the ceremony attending an inauguration
  6. observance of an established code of civility or politeness
    • opened the door without ceremony and strode in

Ce·ren·kov radiation [chə-'reŋ-kȯf-, chər-'yeŋ-] -n

  1. light produced by charged particles (as electrons) traversing a transparent medium at a speed greater than that of light in the same medium called also Cerenkov light

Ce·res ['sir-(,)ēz] -n

  1. the Roman goddess of agriculture
  2. a dwarf planet that orbits within the asteroid belt with a mean distance from the sun of 2.7 astronomical units (260 million miles) and a diameter of 590 miles (950 kilometers)

ce·re·us ['sir-ē-əs] -n

  1. any of various cacti (as of the genus Cereus) of the western U.S. and tropical America

ce·ric ['sir-ik, 'ser-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or containing cerium esp. with a valence of four

ce·rise [sə-'rēs, -'rēz] -n

  1. a moderate red

ce·ri·um ['sir-ē-əm] -n

  1. a malleable ductile metallic element that is the most abundant of the rare-earth group

cer·met ['sər-,met] -n

  1. a composite structural material of a heat-resistant compound (as titanium carbide) and a metal (as nickel) used esp. for turbine blades

CERN -abbr

  1. European Organization for Nuclear Research

cero ['ser-(,)ō] -n

  1. a large spotted food and sport fish ( Scomberomorus regalis) of the warmer parts of the western Atlantic

ce·rous ['sir-əs] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or containing cerium esp. with a valence of three

cert -abbr

  1. certificate; certification; certified; certify

cer·tain ['sər-tᵊn] -adj

  1. fixed, settled
    • a certain percentage of the profit
  2. of a specific but unspecified character, quantity, or degree
    • the house has a certain charm
  3. dependable, reliable
    • a certain remedy for the disease
  4. known or proved to be true : indisputable
    • it is certain that we exist
  5. inevitable
    • the certain advance of age
  6. incapable of failing : destined used with a following infinitive
    • she is certain to do well
  7. assured in mind or action
    • I am certain they are right

certain -pron, pl in constr

  1. certain ones

cer·tain·ly [-lē] -adv

  1. in a manner that is certain : with certainty
  2. it is certain that : assuredly

cer·tain·ty ['sər-tᵊn-tē] -n

  1. something that is certain
  2. the quality or state of being certain esp. on the basis of evidence

cer·tes ['sər-tēz, 'sərts] -adv

  1. in truth : certainly

cer·ti·fi·able [,sər-tə-'fī-ə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. capable of being certified
    • certifiable teachers
  2. genuine, authentic
    • a certifiable liar
    • a certifiable movie star
  3. fit to be certified as insane : crazy
    • downright certifiable behavior

cer·tif·i·cate [(,)sər-'ti-fi-kət] -n

  1. a document containing a certified statement esp. as to the truth of something
  2. a document certifying that one has fulfilled the requirements of and may practice in a field
  3. something serving the same end as a certificate
  4. a document evidencing ownership or debt
    • a stock certificate
  5. to testify to or authorize by a certificate
  6. certify

certificate of deposit

  1. a money-market bond of a preset face value paying fixed interest and redeemable without penalty only on maturity

cer·ti·fi·ca·tion [,sər-tə-fə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the act of certifying : the state of being certified
  2. a certified statement

certification mark -n

  1. a mark or device used to identify a product or service that has been certified to conform to a particular set of standards

certified -adj

  1. having earned certification
    • a certified gemologist
  2. genuine, authentic
    • a certified big shot
    • certified intellectuals

certified mail -n

  1. first class mail for which proof of delivery is secured but no indemnity value is claimed

certified milk -n

  1. milk produced in dairies that operate under the rules and regulations of an authorized medical milk commission

certified public accountant -n

  1. an accountant who has met the requirements of a state law and has been granted a certificate

cer·ti·fy ['sər-tə-,fī] -vt, n

  1. : to attest authoritatively: as
  2. confirm
  3. to present in formal communication
  4. to attest as being true or as represented or as meeting a standard
  5. to attest officially to the insanity of
  6. to inform with certainty : assure
  7. to guarantee (a personal check) as to signature and amount by so indicating on the face
  8. to recognize as having met special qualifications (as of a governmental agency or professional board) within a field
    • agencies that certify teachers

cer·tio·ra·ri [,sər-sh(ē-)ə-'rer-ē, -'rär-ē, -'ra-rē] -n

  1. a writ of superior court to call up the records of an inferior court or a body acting in a quasi-judicial capacity

cer·ti·tude ['sər-tə-,tüd also -,tyüd] -n

  1. the state of being or feeling certain
  2. certainty of act or event

ce·ru·le·an [sə-'rü-lē-ən] -adj

  1. resembling the blue of the sky

ce·ru·lo·plas·min [sə-,rü-lō-'plaz-mən] -n

  1. a blue copper-binding serum oxidase that is deficient in Wilson's disease

ce·ru·men [sə-'rü-mən] -n, adj

  1. earwax

ce·ruse [sə-'rüs, 'sir-,üs] -n

  1. white lead as a pigment
  2. a cosmetic containing white lead

ce·rus·site [sə-'rə-,sīt] -n

  1. a colorless or white mineral consisting of a carbonate of lead that occurs in transparent crystals and also in massive form and is a source of white lead

cer·ve·lat ['sər-və-,lat, -,lä] -n

  1. smoked sausage made from a combination of pork and beef

cer·ve·za [sər-'vā-sə; ser-'bā-sä, ther-'bā-thä] -n

  1. beer
  2. beer

cer·vi·cal ['sər-vi-kəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a neck or cervix

cervical cap -n

  1. a usu. rubber or plastic contraceptive device in the form of a thimble-shaped molded cap that fits snugly over the uterine cervix and blocks sperm from entering the uterus

cer·vi·ci·tis [,sər-və-'sī-təs] -n

  1. inflammation of the uterine cervix

cer·vine ['sər-,vīn] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or resembling deer

cer·vix ['sər-viks] -n

  1. neck
  2. the back part of the neck
  3. a constricted portion of an organ or part
  4. the narrow outer end of the uterus

ce·sar·e·an [si-'zer-ē-ən] -n, adj

  1. cesarean section

cesarean section -n

  1. surgical incision of the walls of the abdomen and uterus for delivery of offspring

ce·si·um ['sē-zē-əm also -zhē-] -n

  1. a silver-white soft ductile element of the alkali metal group that is the most electropositive element known and that is used esp. in photoelectric cells

cesium 133 -n

  1. an isotope of cesium used esp. in atomic clocks and one of whose atomic transitions is used as a scientific time standard

cess ['ses] -n

  1. luck usu. used in the phrase bad cess to you

ces·sa·tion [se-'sā-shən] -n

  1. a temporary or final ceasing (as of action) : stop

ces·sion ['se-shən] -n

  1. a yielding to another : concession

cess·pit ['ses-,pit] -n

  1. a pit for the disposal of refuse (as sewage)

cess·pool [-,pül] -n

  1. an underground reservoir for liquid waste (as household sewage)
  2. a filthy, evil, or corrupt place or state
    • a cesspool of corruption

ces·ta ['ses-tə] -n

  1. a narrow curved wicker basket used to catch and propel the ball in jai alai

ces·tode ['ses-,tōd] -n, adj

  1. tapeworm

ces·tus ['ses-təs] -n

  1. a woman's belt
  2. a symbolic one worn by a bride

cestus -n

  1. a hand covering of leather bands often loaded with lead or iron and used by boxers in ancient Rome

CETA -abbr

  1. Comprehensive Employment and Training Act

ce·ta·cean [si-'tā-shən] -n, adj

  1. any of an order (Cetacea) of aquatic mostly marine mammals that includes the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and related forms and that have a torpedo-shaped nearly hairless body, paddle-shaped forelimbs but no hind limbs, one or two nares opening externally at the top of the head, and a horizontally flattened tail used for locomotion

ce·tane ['sē-,tān] -n

  1. a colorless oily hydrocarbon C 16H 34found in petroleum

cetane number -n

  1. a measure of the ignition value of a diesel fuel that represents the percentage by volume of cetane in a mixture of liquid methylnaphthalene that gives the same ignition lag as the oil being tested called also cetane rating

ce·te·ris pa·ri·bus ['kā-tər-əs-'pa-rə-bəs, 'ke-, 'se-] -adv

  1. if all other relevant things, factors, or elements remain unaltered

ce·tol·o·gy [sē-'tä-lə-jē] -n

  1. a branch of zoology concerned with the cetaceans

Ce·tus ['sē-təs] -n

  1. an equatorial constellation south of Pisces and Aries

ce·tyl alcohol ['sē-tᵊl-] -n

  1. a waxy crystalline alcohol C 16H 34O obtained by the saponification of spermaceti or the hydrogenation of palmitic acid and used esp. in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations and in making detergents

CEU -abbr

  1. continuing education unit

ceviche [sə-'vē-(,)chā, -chē] -n

(variant of seviche)

  1. a dish of raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice often with oil, onions, peppers, and seasonings and served esp. as an appetizer