EP -abbr

  1. estimated position
  2. European plan
  3. extended play

EPA -abbr

  1. eicosapentaenoic acid
  2. Environmental Protection Agency

epact ['ē-,pakt, 'e-] -n

  1. a period added to harmonize the lunar with the solar calendar

ep·ar·chy ['e-,pär-kē] -n

  1. a diocese of an Eastern church

ep·au·let [,e-pə-'let; 'e-pə-,let, -lət] -n, adj

  1. : something that ornaments or protects the shoulder: as
  2. an ornamental fringed shoulder pad formerly worn as part of a military uniform
  3. an ornamental strip or loop sewn across the shoulder of a dress or coat

ep·a·zote ['e-pə-,zōt] -n

  1. wormseed
  2. the fresh or dried pungent-smelling leaves of wormseed used esp. in Mexican cooking

epee ['e-,pā, ā-'pā] -n

  1. a fencing or dueling sword having a bowl-shaped guard and a rigid blade of triangular section with no cutting edge that tapers to a sharp point blunted for fencing
  2. the art or sport of fencing with the epee

epee·ist [-ist] -n

  1. one who fences with an epee

ep·ei·rog·e·ny [,e-,pī-'rä-jə-nē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the deformation of the earth's crust by which the broader features of relief are produced

epen·the·sis [i-'pen(t)-thə-səs, e-] -n, adj

  1. the insertion or development of a sound or letter in the body of a word (as in a-th-let athlete)

epergne [i-'pərn, ā-] -n

  1. an often ornate tiered centerpiece consisting typically of a frame of wrought metal (as silver or gold) bearing dishes, vases, or candle holders or a combination of these

ep·ex·e·ge·sis [,e-,pek-sə-'jē-səs] -n, adj, adv

  1. additional explanation or explanatory matter

Eph -abbr

  1. Ephesians

ephah ['ē-fə, 'e-fə] -n

  1. an ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure equal to homer or a little over a bushel

ephebe ['e-,fēb, i-'fēb] -n

  1. ephebus
  2. a young man : youth

ephe·bic [i-'fē-bik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of an ephebe or ephebus

ephe·bus [i-'fē-bəs, e-] -n

  1. a youth of ancient Greece
  2. an Athenian 18 or 19 years old in training for full citizenship

ephe·dra [i-'fe-drə, 'e-fə-drə] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Ephedraof the family Ephedraceae) of jointed nearly leafless shrubs of dry or desert regions with the leaves reduced to scales at the nodes
  2. an extract of ma huang containing ephedrine and related alkaloids and used as a dietary supplement

ephed·rine [i-'fe-drən, Brit also 'e-fə-drən] -n

  1. a crystalline sympathomimetic alkaloid C 10H 15NO extracted from Chinese ephedras or synthesized and usu. used in the form of a salt esp. as a bronchodilator and decongestant

ephem·era [i-'fe-mər-ə, -'fem-rə] -n

  1. something of no lasting significance usu. used in pl.
  2. paper items (as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were orig. meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles

ephem·er·al [i-'fem-rəl, -'fēm-; -'fe-mə-, -'fē-] -adj, adv

  1. lasting one day only
    • an ephemeral fever
  2. lasting a very short time
    • ephemeral pleasures

ephemeral -n

  1. something ephemeral
  2. a plant that grows, flowers, and dies in a few days

ephem·er·al·i·ty [i-,fe-mə-'ra-lə-tē, -,fē-] -n

  1. ephemeral things
  2. the quality or state of being ephemeral

ephem·er·id [i-'fe-mə-rəd] -n

  1. mayfly

ephem·er·is [-mə-rəs] -n

  1. a tabular statement of the assigned places of a celestial body for regular intervals

ephemeris time -n

  1. a uniform measure of time defined by the orbital motions of the planets

Ephe·sians [i-'fē-zhənz] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a letter addressed to early Christians and included as a book in the New Testament

eph·od ['e-,fäd, 'ē-] -n

  1. a linen apron worn in ancient Hebrew rites
  2. a vestment for the high priest
  3. an ancient Hebrew instrument of priestly divination

eph·or ['e-fər, -,fȯr] -n

  1. one of five ancient Spartan magistrates having power over the king
  2. a government official in modern Greece
  3. one who oversees public works

Ephra·im ['ē-frē-əm] -n

  1. a son of Joseph and the traditional eponymous ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel

Ephra·im·ite [-frē-ə-,mīt] -n

  1. a member of the Hebrew tribe of Ephraim
  2. a native or inhabitant of the biblical northern kingdom of Israel

epi- -prefix

  1. upon
    • epi phyte
    : besides
    • epi phenomenon
    : attached to
    • epi didymis
    : over
    • epi center
    : outer
    • epi blast
    : after
    • epi genesis
  2. chemical entity related to (such) another
    • epi mer
  3. chemical entity distinguished from (such) another by having a bridge connection
    • epi chlorohydrin

epi·blast ['e-pə-,blast] -n, adj

  1. the outer layer of the blastoderm : ectoderm

epib·o·ly [i-'pi-bə-lē] -n, adj

  1. the growing of one part about another
  2. such growth of the dorsal lip area during gastrulation

ep·ic ['e-pik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an epic
    • an epic poem
  2. extending beyond the usual or ordinary esp. in size or scope
    • his genius was epic -- Times Lit. Supp.
  3. heroic

epic -n

  1. a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero
    • the Iliad and the Odyssey are epic s
  2. a work of art (as a novel or drama) that resembles or suggests an epic
  3. a series of events or body of legend or tradition thought to form the proper subject of an epic
    • the winning of the West was a great American epic

epi·ca·lyx [,e-pi-'kā-liks also -'ka-liks] -n

  1. an involucre resembling the calyx but consisting of a whorl of bracts that is exterior to the calyx or results from the union of the sepal appendages

epi·can·thic fold [,e-pə-'kan(t)-thik-] -n

  1. a prolongation of a fold of the skin of the upper eyelid over the inner angle or both angles of the eye

epi·car·di·um [,e-pə-'kär-dē-əm] -n, adj

  1. the inner layer of the pericardium that closely envelops the heart

epi·carp ['e-pi-,kärp] -n

  1. exocarp

ep·i·cene ['e-pə-,sēn] -adj, n

  1. having but one form to indicate either sex
  2. having characteristics typical of the other sex : intersexual
  3. effeminate
  4. lacking characteristics of either sex

epi·cen·ter ['e-pi-,sen-tər] -n, adj

  1. the part of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
  2. center
    • the epicenter of world finance

epi·chlo·ro·hy·drin [,e-pi-,klȯr-ə-'hī-drən] -n

  1. a volatile liquid toxic epoxide C 3H 5ClO having a chloroform odor and used esp. in making epoxy resins and rubbers

epi·con·ti·nen·tal [,e-pi-,kän-tə-'nen-tᵊl] -adj

  1. lying upon a continent or a continental shelf
    • epicontinental seas

epi·cot·yl ['e-pi-,kä-tᵊl] -n

  1. the portion of the axis of a plant embryo or seedling above the cotyledonary node

ep·i·crit·ic [,e-pə-'kri-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, being, or mediating cutaneous sensory reception marked by accurate discrimination between small degrees of sensation

epic simile -n

  1. an extended simile that is used typically in epic poetry to intensify the heroic stature of the subject

ep·i·cure ['e-pi-,kyu̇r] -n

  1. one devoted to sensual pleasure : sybarite
  2. one with sensitive and discriminating tastes esp. in food or wine

ep·i·cu·re·an [,e-pi-kyu̇-'rē-ən, -'kyu̇r-ē-] -adj

  1. of or relating to Epicurus or Epicureanism
  2. of, relating to, or suited to an epicure

Epicurean -n

  1. a follower of Epicurus
  2. epicure

ep·i·cu·re·an·ism [-ə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. the philosophy of Epicurus who subscribed to a hedonistic ethics that considered an imperturbable emotional calm the highest good and whose followers held intellectual pleasures superior to transient sensualism
  2. a way of life in accord with Epicureanism
  3. epicurism

ep·i·cur·ism ['e-pi-,kyu̇r-,i-zəm, ,e-pi-'] -n

  1. the practices or tastes of an epicure or an epicurean

epi·cu·ti·cle [,e-pi-'kyü-ti-kəl] -n, adj

  1. the outermost waxy layer of the arthropod exoskeleton

epi·cy·cle ['e-pə-,sī-kəl] -n, adj

  1. a circle in which a planet moves and which has a center that is itself carried around at the same time on the circumference of a larger circle
  2. a process going on within a larger one

epicyclic train -n

  1. a train (as of gear wheels) designed to have one or more parts travel around the circumference of another fixed or revolving part

epi·cy·cloid [,e-pə-'sī-,klȯid] -n, adj

  1. a curve traced by a point on a circle that rolls on the outside of a fixed circle

ep·i·dem·ic [,e-pə-'de-mik] -adj, adv, n

  1. affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time
    • typhoid was epidemic
  2. excessively prevalent
  3. contagious
    • epidemic laughter
  4. of, relating to, or constituting an epidemic
    • the practice had reached epidemic proportions

epidemic -n

  1. an outbreak of epidemic disease
  2. an outbreak or product of sudden rapid spread, growth, or development
    • an epidemic of bankruptcies

ep·i·de·mi·ol·o·gy [,e-pə-,dē-mē-'ä-lə-jē, -,de-mē-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population
  2. the sum of the factors controlling the presence or absence of a disease or pathogen

ep·i·den·drum [,e-pə-'den-drəm] -n

  1. any of a large genus ( Epidendrum) of chiefly epiphytic orchids found esp. in tropical America

epi·der·mal [,e-pə-'dər-məl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or arising from the epidermis

epidermal growth factor -n

  1. a polypeptide hormone that stimulates cell proliferation

epi·der·mis [,e-pə-'dər-məs] -n

  1. the outer epithelial layer of the external integument of the animal body that is derived from the embryonic epiblast
  2. the outer nonsensitive and nonvascular layer of the skin of a vertebrate that overlies the dermis
  3. any of various animal integuments
  4. a thin surface layer of tissue in higher plants formed by growth of a primary meristem

epi·der·moid [-,mȯid] -adj

  1. resembling epidermis or epidermal cells : made up of elements like those of epidermis
    • an epidermoid cyst

epi·dia·scope [,e-pə-'dī-ə-,skōp] -n

  1. a projector for images of both opaque objects and transparencies
  2. episcope

ep·i·did·y·mis [,e-pə-'di-də-məs] -n, adj

  1. a system of ductules emerging posteriorly from the testis that holds sperm during maturation and that forms a tangled mass before uniting into a single coiled duct which is continuous with the vas deferens

epi·did·y·mi·tis [,e-pə-,di-də-'mī-təs] -n

  1. inflammation of the epididymis

ep·i·dote ['e-pə-,dōt] -n

  1. a yellowish-green mineral Ca 2(Al,Fe) 3Si 3O 12OH usu. occurring in grains or columnar masses and sometimes used as a gemstone

epi·du·ral [,e-pi-'d(y)u̇r-əl] -adj

  1. situated upon or administered or placed outside the dura mater
    • epidural anesthesia
    • an epidural abscess

epidural -n

  1. an injection of a local anesthetic into the space outside the dura mater of the spinal cord in the lower back region to produce loss of sensation esp. in the abdomen or pelvic region

epi·fau·na [-'fȯ-nə, -'fä-] -n, adj

  1. benthic fauna living on the substrate (as a hard sea floor) or on other organisms

epi·gas·tric [,e-pi-'gas-trik] -adj

  1. lying upon or over the stomach
  2. of, relating to, supplying, or draining the anterior walls of the abdomen
  3. of or relating to the abdominal region

epi·ge·al [,e-pi-'jē-əl] -adj

  1. forced above ground by elongation of the hypocotyl
  2. marked by the production of epigeal cotyledons
    • epigeal germination
  3. living on or near the surface of the ground
  4. relating to or being the environment near the surface of the ground

epi·gen·e·sis [,e-pə-'je-nə-səs] -n

  1. development of a plant or animal from an egg or spore through a series of processes in which unorganized cell masses differentiate into organs and organ systems
  2. the theory that plant and animal development proceeds in this way
  3. change in the mineral character of a rock owing to outside influences

epi·ge·net·ic [-jə-'ne-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or produced by the chain of developmental processes in epigenesis that lead from genotype to phenotype after the initial action of the genes
  2. relating to, being, or involving changes in gene function that do not involve changes in DNA sequence
  3. formed after the laying down of the enclosing rock

epi·glot·tal [,e-pə-'glä-tᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or produced with the aid of the epiglottis

epi·glot·tis [-'glä-təs] -n

  1. a thin plate of flexible cartilage in front of the glottis that folds back over and protects the glottis during swallowing

ep·i·gone ['e-pə-,gōn] -n, adj

  1. follower, disciple
  2. an inferior imitator

epig·o·nus [i-'pi-gə-nəs, e-] -n

  1. epigone usu. used in pl.

ep·i·gram ['e-pə-,gram] -n

  1. a concise poem dealing pointedly and often satirically with a single thought or event and often ending with an ingenious turn of thought
  2. a terse, sage, or witty and often paradoxical saying
  3. epigrammatic expression

ep·i·gram·mat·ic [,e-pə-grə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or resembling an epigram
  2. marked by or given to the use of epigrams

ep·i·gram·ma·tize [-'gra-mə-,tīz] -vb, n

  1. to express in the form of an epigram
  2. to make an epigram about
  3. to make an epigram

ep·i·graph ['e-pə-,graf] -n

  1. an engraved inscription
  2. a quotation set at the beginning of a literary work or one of its divisions to suggest its theme

epig·ra·pher [i-'pi-grə-fər, e-] -n

  1. epigraphist

ep·i·graph·ic [,e-pə-'gra-fik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to epigraphs or epigraphy

epig·ra·phist [i-'pi-grə-fist, e-] -n

  1. a specialist in epigraphy

epig·ra·phy [-fē] -n

  1. epigraphs, inscriptions
  2. the study of inscriptions
  3. the deciphering of ancient inscriptions

epig·y·nous [i-'pi-jə-nəs, e-] -adj, n

  1. adnate to the surface of the ovary and appearing to grow from the top of it
  2. having epigynous floral organs

ep·i·la·tion [,e-pə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. the loss or removal of hair

ep·i·lep·sy ['e-pə-,lep-sē] -n

  1. any of various disorders marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain and typically manifested by sudden brief episodes of altered or diminished consciousness, involuntary movements, or convulsions

epilept- -comb form

  1. epilepsy
    • epilept oid

ep·i·lep·tic [,e-pə-'lep-tik] -adj, n, adv

  1. relating to, affected with, or having the characteristics of epilepsy
    • an epileptic seizure

ep·i·lep·ti·form [-'lep-tə-,fȯrm] -adj

  1. resembling that of epilepsy
    • an epileptiform convulsion

ep·i·lep·to·gen·ic [-,lep-tə-'je-nik] -adj

  1. inducing or tending to induce epilepsy
    • an epileptogenic drug

ep·i·lep·toid [-'lep-,tȯid] -adj

  1. epileptiform
  2. exhibiting symptoms resembling those of epilepsy
    • the epileptoid person

epi·lim·ni·on [,e-pə-'lim-nē-,än, -nē-ən] -n

  1. the water layer overlying the thermocline of a lake

ep·i·logue ['e-pə-,lȯg, -,läg] -n

  1. a concluding section that rounds out the design of a literary work
  2. a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the end of a play
  3. the actor speaking such an epilogue
  4. the final scene of a play that comments on or summarizes the main action
  5. the concluding section of a musical composition : coda

epi·mer ['e-pi-mər] -n, adj

  1. either of two stereoisomers that differ in the arrangement of groups on a single asymmetric carbon atom (as the first chiral center of a sugar's carbon chain)

epim·er·ase [i-'pi-mə-,rās, e-, -,rāz] -n

  1. any of various isomerases that catalyze the inversion of asymmetric groups in a substrate with several centers of asymmetry

epi·my·si·um [,e-pə-'mi-zhē-əm, -zē-] -n

  1. the external connective-tissue sheath of a muscle

epi·nas·ty ['e-pə-,nas-tē] -n

  1. a nastic movement in which a plant part (as a flower petal) is bent outward and often downward

epi·neph·rine [,e-pə-'ne-frən] -n

  1. a colorless crystalline feebly basic sympathomimetic hormone C 9H 13NO 3that is the principal blood-pressure raising hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla and is used medicinally esp. as a heart stimulant, a vasoconstrictor in controlling hemorrhages of the skin, and a muscle relaxant in bronchial asthma called also adrenaline

epi·neu·ri·um [,e-pə-'n(y)u̇r-ē-əm] -n

  1. the external connective-tissue sheath of a nerve trunk

epi·pe·lag·ic [,e-pi-pə-'la-jik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the part of the oceanic zone into which enough light penetrates for photosynthesis

ep·i·phan·ic [,e-pə-'fa-nik] -adj

  1. of or having the character of an epiphany

epiph·a·nous [i-'pi-fə-nəs] -adj

  1. epiphanic

epiph·a·ny [i-'pi-fə-nē] -n

  1. January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ
  2. an appearance or manifestation esp. of a divine being
  3. a usu. sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something
  4. an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usu. simple and striking
  5. an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure
  6. a revealing scene or moment

epi·phe·nom·e·nal [,e-pi-fi-'nä-mə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to an epiphenomenon : derivative

epi·phe·nom·e·nal·ism [-nə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. a doctrine that mental processes are epiphenomena of brain processes

epi·phe·nom·e·non [-'nä-mə-,nän, -nən] -n

  1. a secondary phenomenon accompanying another and caused by it
  2. a secondary mental phenomenon that is caused by and accompanies a physical phenomenon but has no causal influence itself

ep·i·phragm ['e-pə-,fram] -n

  1. a closing membrane or septum (as of a snail shell or a moss capsule)

epiph·y·se·al [i-,pi-fə-'sē-əl] -adj

  1. of or relating to an epiphysis

epiph·y·sis [i-'pi-fə-səs] -n

  1. a part or process of a bone that ossifies separately and later becomes ankylosed to the main part of the bone
  2. an end of a long bone
  3. pineal gland

epi·phyte ['e-pə-,fīt] -n

  1. a plant that derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and grows usu. on another plant

epi·phyt·ic [,e-pə-'fi-tik] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or being an epiphyte
  2. living on the surface of plants

ep·i·phy·tot·ic [-'tä-tik] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being a plant disease that tends to recur sporadically and to affect large numbers of susceptible plants

EPIRB -abbr

  1. emergency position-indicating radio beacon

epi·scia [i-'pi-sh(ē-)ə] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Episcia) of tropical American herbs of the gesneriad family that have hairy foliage and are related to the African violet

epis·co·pa·cy [i-'pis-kə-pə-sē] -n

  1. government of the church by bishops or by a hierarchy
  2. episcopate

epis·co·pal [i-'pis-kə-pəl, -bəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a bishop
  2. of, having, or constituting government by bishops
  3. of or relating to the Protestant Episcopal Church representing the Anglican communion in the U.S.

Episcopal -n

  1. episcopalian

Epis·co·pa·lian [i-,pis-kə-'pāl-yən] -n, adj

  1. an adherent of the episcopal form of church government
  2. a member of an episcopal church (as the Protestant Episcopal Church)

epis·co·pate [i-'pis-kə-pət, -,pāt] -n

  1. the rank or office of or term of as a bishop
  2. diocese
  3. the body of bishops (as in a country)

epi·scope ['e-pə-,skōp] -n

  1. a projector for images of opaque objects (as photographs)

epi·si·ot·o·my [i-,pi-zē-'ä-tə-mē, -,pē-] -n

  1. surgical incision of the perineum to enlarge the vaginal opening for obstetrical purposes during the birth process

ep·i·sode ['e-pə-,sōd also -,zōd] -n

  1. : a usu. brief unit of action in a dramatic or literary work: as
  2. the part of an ancient Greek tragedy between two choric songs
  3. a developed situation that is integral to but separable from a continuous narrative : incident
  4. one of a series of loosely connected stories or scenes
  5. the part of a serial presented at one performance
  6. an event that is distinctive and separate although part of a larger series
  7. a digressive subdivision in a musical composition

ep·i·sod·ic [,e-pə-'sä-dik also -'zä-] -adj, adv

  1. made up of separate esp. loosely connected episodes
  2. having the form of an episode
  3. of or limited in duration or significance to a particular episode : temporary
    • may be able to establish whether the sea-floor spreading is continuous or episodic -- A. I. Hammond
  4. occurring, appearing, or changing at usu. irregular intervals : occasional
    • an episodic illness

epi·some ['e-pə-,sōm, -,zōm] -n, adj, adv

  1. a genetic determinant (as the DNA of some bacteriophages) that can replicate autonomously in bacterial cytoplasm or as an integral part of the chromosomes

epis·ta·sis [i-'pis-tə-səs] -n, adj

  1. suppression of the effect of a gene by a nonallelic gene

ep·i·stax·is [,e-pə-'stak-səs] -n

  1. nosebleed

ep·i·ste·mic [,e-pə-'stē-mik, -'ste-mik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to knowledge or knowing : cognitive

epis·te·mol·o·gy [i-,pis-tə-'mä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the study or a theory of the nature and grounds of knowledge esp. with reference to its limits and validity

epis·tle [i-'pi-səl] -n

  1. one of the letters adopted as books of the New Testament
  2. a liturgical lection usu. from one of the New Testament Epistles
  3. letter
  4. a formal or elegant letter
  5. a composition in the form of a letter

epis·to·lary [i-'pis-tə-,ler-ē, ,e-pi-'stȯ-lə-rē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or suitable to a letter
  2. contained in or carried on by letters
    • an endless sequence of...epistolary love affairs -- Times Lit. Supp.
  3. written in the form of a series of letters
    • an epistolary novel

epistolary -n

  1. a lectionary containing a body of liturgical epistles

epis·to·ler [i-'pis-tə-lər] -n

  1. the reader of the liturgical Epistle esp. in Anglican churches

ep·i·stome ['e-pə-,stōm] -n

  1. any of several structures or regions situated above or covering the mouth of various invertebrates

epis·tro·phe [i-'pis-trə-(,)fē] -n

  1. repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses esp. for rhetorical or poetic effect (as Lincoln's of the people, by the people, for the people)

ep·i·taph ['e-pə-,taf] -n, adj

  1. an inscription on or at a tomb or a grave in memory of the one buried there
  2. a brief statement commemorating or epitomizing a deceased person or something past

epit·a·sis [i-'pi-tə-səs] -n

  1. the part of a play developing the main action and leading to the catastrophe

ep·i·taxy ['e-pə-,tak-sē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the growth on a crystalline substrate of a crystalline substance that mimics the orientation of the substrate

ep·i·tha·la·mi·um [,e-pə-thə-'lā-mē-əm] -n, adj

  1. a song or poem in honor of a bride and bridegroom

ep·i·the·li·al [,e-pə-'thē-lē-əl] -adj

  1. of or relating to epithelium

ep·i·the·li·al·i·za·tion [,e-pə-,thē-lē-ə-lə-'zā-shən] -n, vt

  1. the process of becoming covered with or converted to epithelium

ep·i·the·li·oid [-lē-,ȯid] -adj

  1. resembling epithelium
    • epithelioid cells

ep·i·the·li·o·ma [-,thē-lē-'ō-mə] -n, adj

  1. a tumor derived from epithelial tissue

ep·i·the·li·um [,e-pə-'thē-lē-əm] -n

  1. a membranous cellular tissue that covers a free surface or lines a tube or cavity of an animal body and serves esp. to enclose and protect the other parts of the body, to produce secretions and excretions, and to function in assimilation
  2. a usu. thin layer of parenchyma that lines a cavity or tube of a plant

ep·i·thet ['e-pə-,thet also -thət] -n, adj

  1. a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing
  2. a disparaging or abusive word or phrase
  3. the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus
  4. expression

epit·o·me [i-'pi-tə-mē] -n, adj

  1. a summary of a written work
  2. a brief presentation or statement of something
  3. a typical or ideal example : embodiment
    • the British monarchy itself is the epitome of tradition -- Richard Joseph
  4. brief or miniature form usu. used with in

epit·o·mise [-,mīz] -vt

(variant of epitomize)

  1. to make or give an epitome of
  2. to serve as the typical or ideal example of

epit·o·mize [-,mīz] -vt

  1. to make or give an epitome of
  2. to serve as the typical or ideal example of

epi·tope ['e-pə-,tōp] -n

  1. a molecular region on the surface of an antigen capable of eliciting an immune response and of combining with the specific antibody produced by such a response called also determinant antigenic determinant

epi·zo·ic [,e-pə-'zō-ik] -adj, n

  1. living upon the body of an animal
    • an epizoic plant

epi·zo·ot·ic [,e-pə-zə-'wä-tik, -zō-'ä-] -n, adj

  1. an outbreak of disease affecting many animals of one kind at the same time
  2. the disease itself

epi·zo·ot·i·ol·o·gy [,e-pə-zə-,wä-tē-'ä-lə-jē, -zō-,ä-] -n, adj

  1. the sum of the factors controlling the occurrence of a disease or pathogen of animals
  2. a science that deals with the character, ecology, and causes of outbreaks of animal diseases

EPO -abbr

  1. erythropoietin

ep·och ['e-pək, 'e-,päk, US also & Brit usu 'ē-,päk] -n

  1. an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development
  2. a memorable event or date
  3. an extended period of time usu. characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events
  4. a division of geologic time less than a period and greater than an age
  5. an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference (as in astronomy)

ep·och·al ['e-pə-kəl, 'e-,pä-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to an epoch
  2. uniquely or highly significant : momentous
    • during his three epochal years in the assembly -- C. G. Bowers
  3. unparalleled
    • epochal stupidity

ep·ode ['e-,pōd] -n

  1. a lyric poem in which a long verse is followed by a shorter one
  2. the third part of a triadic Greek ode following the strophe and the antistrophe

ep·onym ['e-pə-,nim] -n, adj

  1. one for whom or which something is or is believed to be named
  2. a name (as of a drug or a disease) based on or derived from an eponym

epon·y·mous [i-'pä-nə-məs, e-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or being an eponym

epon·y·my [-mē] -n

  1. the explanation of a proper name (as of a town or tribe) by supposing a fictitious eponym

ep·o·pee ['e-pə-,pē] -n

  1. epic
  2. an epic poem

ep·os ['e-,päs] -n

  1. epic
  2. a number of poems that treat an epic theme but are not formally united

ep·ox·i·da·tion [(,)e-,päk-sə-'dā-shən] -n

  1. a conversion of a usu. unsaturated compound into an epoxide

ep·ox·ide [(,)e-'päk-,sīd] -n

  1. an epoxy compound

ep·ox·i·dize [(,)e-'päk-sə-,dīz] -vt

  1. to convert into an epoxide
    • epoxidized esters

ep·oxy [i-'päk-sē] -adj

  1. containing oxygen attached to two different atoms already united in some other way
  2. containing a 3-membered ring consisting of one oxygen and two carbon atoms
  3. of or relating to an epoxide

epoxy -vt

  1. to glue, fill, or coat with epoxy resin

epoxy resin -n

  1. a flexible usu. thermosetting resin made by copolymerization of an epoxide with another compound having two hydroxyl groups and used chiefly in coatings and adhesives called also epoxy

EPR -abbr

  1. electron paramagnetic resonance

EPROM ['ē-,präm] -n

  1. a read-only memory that can be erased (as by exposure to ultraviolet radiation) and usu. reprogrammed

ep·si·lon ['ep-sə-,län, -lən] -n, adj

  1. the 5th letter of the Greek alphabet
  2. an arbitrarily small positive quantity in mathematical analysis

Ep·som salt ['ep-səm-] -n

  1. epsom salts

Epsom salts -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a bitter colorless or white crystalline salt MgSO 47H 2O that is a hydrated magnesium sulfate with cathartic properties

Ep·steinBarr virus [,ep-,stīn-'bär-] -n

  1. a herpesvirus (species Human herpesvirus 4of the genus Lymphocryptovirus) that causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma abbr. EBV