me ['ī] -n
(variant of i)
- the 9th letter of the English alphabet
- a graphic representation of this letter
- a speech counterpart of orthographic i
- one
- a graphic device for reproducing the letter i
- one designated iesp. as the ninth in order or class
- something shaped like the letter I
- a unit vector parallel to the x-axis
- a grade rating a student's work as incomplete
- one graded or rated with an I
- I formation
- industrial
- initial
- intelligence
- intensity
- interlaced
- intransitive
- island; isle
- imaginary unit
Me -abbr
- methyl
ME -abbr
- Maine
- managing editor
- mechanical engineer
- medical examiner
mea cul·pa [,mā-ə-'ku̇l-pə, ,mā-ä-, -'ku̇l-(,)pä] -n
- a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error
mead ['mēd] -n
- a fermented beverage made of water and honey, malt, and yeast
- meadow
mead·ow ['me-(,)dō] -n, adj
- land in or predominantly in grass
- a tract of moist low-lying usu. level grassland
meadow beauty -n
- any of a genus ( Rhexiaof the family Melastomaceae, the meadow-beauty family) of perennial No. American herbs with showy solitary or cymose flowers
meadow fescue -n
- a tall vigorous broad-leaved European fescue grass ( Festuca pratensis) cultivated for forage and hay
mead·ow·foam ['me-(,)dō-,fōm] -n
- any of a genus ( Limnanthesof the family Limnanthaceae) of annual herbs of the Pacific coast of No. America having white or yellow flowers and including some (as L. alba) grown for their seeds which yield an oil used chiefly as an industrial lubricant and in cosmetics
meadow grass -n
- any of various grasses (as of the genus Poa) that thrive in the presence of abundant moisture
- kentucky bluegrass
mead·ow·land ['me-dō-,land, -də-] -n
- land that is or is used for meadow
mead·ow·lark ['me-dō-,lärk, -də-] -n
- any of several American songbirds (genus Sturnellaof the family Icteridae) that are streaked brown above and in northernmost forms have a yellow breast marked with a black crescent
meadow mushroom -n
- a common edible brown-spored agaric ( Agaricus campestris) that occurs in moist open organically rich soil and is often cultivated
meadow nematode -n
- any of numerous plant-parasitic nematodes (esp. genus Pratylenchus) that are destructive to plant roots
meadow rue -n
- any of a genus ( Thalictrum) of widely distributed perennial herbs of the buttercup family growing in typically damp areas
meadow saffron -n
- autumn crocus
meadow spittlebug -n
- a widely distributed spittlebug ( Philaenus spumarius) that does severe damage esp. to grasses
mead·ow·sweet ['me-dō-,swēt, -də-] -n
- any of several spireas
- a No. American native or naturalized spirea (as Spiraea albaand S. latifolia)
- any of a genus ( Filipendula) of herbs closely related to the spireas
meadow vole -n
- any of various voles (genus Microtus) that frequent open fields
- one ( M. pennsylvanicus) that is widespread in No. America called also meadow mouse
mea·ger ['mē-gər] -adj, adv, n
- having little flesh : thin
- lacking desirable qualities (as richness or strength)
- deficient in quality or quantity
meal ['mēl] -n
- an act or the time of eating a portion of food to satisfy appetite
- the portion of food eaten at a meal
- the usu. coarsely ground and unbolted seeds of a cereal grass or pulse
- cornmeal
- a product resembling seed meal esp. in particle size or texture
mea·lie ['mē-lē] -n
- indian corn
- an ear of Indian corn
mealsonwheels -n pl but sing in constr
- a service that delivers daily hot meals to the homes of elderly or disabled people
meal ticket -n
- one that serves as the ultimate source of one's income
- an advanced degree was his meal ticket
meal·time ['mēl-,tīm] -n
- the usual time for serving a meal
meal·worm [-,wərm] -n
- the larva of a darkling beetle (esp. genus Tenebrio) that infests grain products but is often raised as food for insectivorous animals, for laboratory use, or as fishing bait
mealy ['mē-lē] -adj
- containing meal : farinaceous
- soft, dry, and friable
- covered with meal or with fine granules
- flecked with another color
- spotty, uneven
- pallid, blanched
- mealymouthed
mealy·bug ['mē-lē-,bəg] -n
- any of a family (Pseudococcidae) of scale insects that have a white cottony or waxy covering and are destructive pests esp. of fruit trees
mealy·mouthed ['mē-lē-,mau̇thd, -,mau̇tht] -adj
- not plain and straightforward : devious
- a mealymouthed politician
mean ['mēn] -vb, n
- to have in the mind as a purpose : intend sometimes used interjectionally with I, chiefly in informal speech for emphasis or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrase
- we try to answer what we can, but I mean we're not God -- Bobbie Ann Mason
- to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future
- to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : signify
- to have importance to the degree of
- to direct to a particular individual
- to have an intended purpose
- lacking distinction or eminence : humble
- lacking in mental discrimination : dull
- of poor shabby inferior quality or status
- worthy of little regard : contemptible often used in negative constructions as a term of praise
- lacking dignity or honor : base
- penurious, stingy
- characterized by petty selfishness or malice
- causing trouble or bother : vexatious
- excellent, effective
- ashamed
- occupying a middle position : intermediate in space, order, time, kind, or degree
- occupying a position about midway between extremes
- being the mean of a set of values : average
- serving as a means : intermediary
- something intervening or intermediate
- a middle point between extremes
- : a value that lies within a range of values and is computed according to a prescribed law: as
- arithmetic mean
- expected value
- either of the middle two terms of a proportion
- something useful or helpful to a desired end
- resources available for disposal
- material resources affording a secure life
me·an·der [mē-'an-dər] -n, adj
- a winding path or course
- labyrinth
- a turn or winding of a stream
meander [-d(ə-)riŋ] -vi
- to follow a winding or intricate course
- to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination : ramble
mean deviation -n
- the mean of the absolute values of the numerical differences between the numbers of a set (as statistical data) and their mean or median
mean distance -n
- the arithmetical mean of the maximum and minimum distances of an orbiting celestial object from its primary
mean free path -n
- the average distance traversed between collisions by particles (as molecules of a gas or free electrons in metal) in a system of agitated particles
mean·ie ['mē-nē] -n
- a mean or spiteful person
mean·ing ['mē-niŋ] -n, adj, adv
- the thing one intends to convey esp. by language : purport
- the thing that is conveyed esp. by language : import
- something meant or intended : aim
- a mischievous meaning was apparent
- significant quality
- implication of a hidden or special significance
- the logical connotation of a word or phrase
- the logical denotation or extension of a word or phrase
mean·ing·ful [-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- having a meaning or purpose
- full of meaning : significant
- having an assigned function in a language system
mean·ing·less ['mē-niŋ-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- having no meaning
- lacking any significance
- having no assigned function in a language system
mean·ly ['mēn-lē] -adv
- fairly well : moderately
meanly -adv
- : in a mean manner: as
- in a lowly manner : humbly
- in an inferior manner : badly
- in a base or ungenerous manner
mean proportional -n
- geometric mean
- the square root (as x) of the product of two numbers (as aand b) when expressed as the means of a proportion (as a/x x/b)
mean solar day -n
- the interval between successive transits of a given meridian by the mean sun
meanspir·it·ed ['mēn-'spir-ə-təd, ,mēn-] -adj, n
- exhibiting or characterized by meanness of spirit
mean square -n
- the mean of the squares of a set of values
mean square deviation -n
- variance
- standard deviation
means test ['mēnz-] -n, adj
- an examination into the financial state of a person to determine eligibility for public assistance
mean sun -n
- a fictitious sun used for timekeeping that moves uniformly along the celestial equator and maintains a constant rate of apparent motion equal to the average rate of apparent motion of the real sun
mean·time ['mēn-,tīm] -n
- the intervening time
meantime -adv
- meanwhile
mean time -n
- time that is based on the motion of the mean sun called also mean solar time
mean value theorem -n
- a theorem in differential calculus: if a function of one variable is continuous on a closed interval and differentiable on the interval minus its endpoints there is at least one point where the derivative of the function is equal to the slope of the line joining the endpoints of the curve representing the function on the interval
- a theorem in integral calculus: if a function of one variable is continuous on a closed interval and differentiable on the interval minus its endpoints, there is at least one point in the interval where the product of the value of the function and the length of the interval is equal to the integral of the function over the interval
mean·while ['mēn-,hwī(-ə)l, -,wī(-ə)l] -n
- meantime
meanwhile -adv
- during the intervening time
- at the same time
meas -abbr
- measure
mea·sle ['mē-zəl] -n
- a cysticercus tapeworm larva
- one found in the muscles of a domesticated mammal
mea·sles ['mē-zəlz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- an acute contagious disease that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Measles virus) and is marked esp. by an eruption of distinct red circular spots called also rubeola
- any of various eruptive diseases (as German measles)
- infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues
mea·sly ['mēz-lē, 'mē-zə-] -adj
- infected with measles
- containing larval tapeworms
- infested with trichinae
- contemptibly small
mea·sure ['me-zhər, 'mā-] -n
- an adequate or due portion
- a moderate degree
- moderation, temperance
- a fixed or suitable limit : bounds
- the dimensions, capacity, or amount of something ascertained by measuring
- an estimate of what is to be expected (as of a person or situation)
- a measured quantity
- amount, degree
- an instrument or utensil for measuring
- a standard or unit of measurement
- a system of standard units of measure
- the act or process of measuring
- melody, tune
- dance
- a slow and stately dance
- : rhythmic structure or movement : cadence: as
- poetic rhythm measured by temporal quantity or accent
- meter
- musical time
- a grouping of a specified number of musical beats located between two consecutive vertical lines on a staff
- a metrical unit : foot
- an exact divisor of a number
- a basis or standard of comparison
- wealth is not a measure of happiness
- a step planned or taken as a means to an end
- a proposed legislative act
measure ['me-zhə-riŋ, 'mā-; 'mezh-riŋ, 'māzh-] -vb, n, adj, adv
- to choose or control with cautious restraint : regulate
- to regulate by a standard : govern
- to allot or apportion in measured amounts
- to lay off by making measurements
- to ascertain the measurements of
- to estimate or appraise by a criterion
- measure s his skill against his rival
- to travel over : traverse
- to serve as a means of measuring
- a thermometer measure s temperature
- to take or make a measurement
- to have a specified measurement
measured -adj, adv
- marked by due proportion
- marked by rhythm : regularly recurrent
- metrical
- deliberate, calculated
mea·sure·less [-zhər-ləs] -adj
- having no observable limit : immeasurable
- very great
mea·sure·ment ['me-zhər-mənt, 'mā-] -n
- the act or process of measuring
- a figure, extent, or amount obtained by measuring : dimension
- measure
measurement ton -n
- ton
measure up -vi
- to have necessary or fitting qualifications often used with to
- to be the equal (as in ability) used with to
measuring worm -n
- looper
meat ['mēt] -n, adj
- food
- solid food as distinguished from drink
- the edible part of something as distinguished from its covering (as a husk or shell)
- : animal tissue considered esp. as food:
- flesh
- flesh of a mammal as opposed to fowl or fish
- flesh
- flesh of domesticated animals
- meal
- dinner
- the core of something : heart
- pith
- favorite pursuit or interest
meatandpotatoes -adj
- of fundamental importance : basic
- concerned with or emphasizing the basic aspects of something
- unpretentious, simple
- a real meatandpotatoes guy
- providing or preferring simple food (as meat and potatoes)
meat and potatoes -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- the most interesting or fundamental part : meat
meatax ['mēt-,aks] -n
- cleaver
- an extreme or heavy-handed method of cutting or altering something
meat·ball [-,bȯl] -n
- a small ball of chopped or ground meat often mixed with bread crumbs and spices
meat·head [-,hed] -n
- a stupid or bungling person
meat loaf -n
- a dish of ground meat seasoned and baked in the form of a loaf
meat market -n
- a depersonalizing environment in which people are treated as sexual or economic resources
meat·pack·ing ['mēt-,pa-kiŋ] -n
- the wholesale meat industry
me·a·tus [mē-'ā-təs] -n
- a natural body passage
meaty ['mē-tē] -adj, n
- full of meat
- having the character of meat
- rich esp. in matter for thought : substantial
- actors looking for meaty roles
mec·a·myl·amine [,me-kə-'mi-lə-,mēn] -n
- a drug that is used orally in the form of its hydrochloride C 11H 21NHCl as a ganglionic blocking agent to effect a rapid lowering of severely elevated blood pressure
mec·ca ['me-kə] -n
- a place regarded as a center for a specified group, activity, or interest
mech -abbr
- mechanic; mechanical
mechan- -comb form
- mechanical
me·chan·ic [mi-'ka-nik] -adj
- of or relating to manual work or skill
- mechanical
mechanic -n
- a manual worker : artisan
- machinist
- one who repairs machines
me·chan·i·cal [mi-'ka-ni-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to machinery or tools
- mechanical applications of science
- produced or operated by a machine or tool
- a mechanical refrigerator
- of or relating to manual operations
- of or relating to artisans or machinists
- done as if by machine : seemingly uninfluenced by the mind or emotions : automatic
- of or relating to technicalities or petty matters
- relating to, governed by, or in accordance with the principles of mechanics
- relating to the quantitative relations of force and matter
- mechanical pressure of wind on a tower
- caused by, resulting from, or relating to a process that involves a purely physical as opposed to a chemical or biological change or process
- mechanical erosion of rock
mechanical -n
- mechanic
- a piece of finished copy consisting typically of type proofs and artwork positioned and mounted for photomechanical reproduction
mechanical advantage -n
- the advantage gained by the use of a mechanism in transmitting force
- the ratio of the force that performs the useful work of a machine to the force that is applied to the machine
mechanical drawing -n
- drawing done with the aid of instruments
- a drawing made with instruments
mechanical engineering -n
- a branch of engineering concerned primarily with the industrial application of mechanics and with the production of tools, machinery, and their products
mech·a·ni·cian [,me-kə-'ni-shən] -n
- mechanic, machinist
me·chan·ics [mi-'ka-niks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a branch of physical science that deals with energy and forces and their effect on bodies
- the practical application of mechanics to the design, construction, or operation of machines or tools
- mechanical or functional details or procedure
- the mechanics of the brain
mech·a·nism ['me-kə-,ni-zəm] -n
- a piece of machinery
- a process, technique, or system for achieving a result
- mechanical operation or action : working
- a doctrine that holds natural processes (as of life) to be mechanically determined and capable of complete explanation by the laws of physics and chemistry
- the fundamental processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural phenomenon
mech·a·nist [-nist] -n
- mechanic
- an adherent of the doctrine of mechanism
mech·a·nis·tic [,me-kə-'nis-tik] -adj, adv
- mechanically determined
- of or relating to a mechanism or the doctrine of mechanism
- mechanical
mech·a·nize ['me-kə-,nīz] -vt, adj, n
- to make mechanical
- to make automatic or routine
- to equip with machinery esp. to replace human or animal labor
- to equip with armed and armored motor vehicles
- to provide with mechanical power
- to produce by or as if by machine
mech·a·no·chem·is·try [,me-kə-nō-'ke-mə-strē] -n, adj
- chemistry that deals with the conversion of chemical energy into mechanical work (as in the contraction of a muscle)
mech·a·no·re·cep·tor [-ri-'sep-tər] -n, adj
- a neural end organ (as a tactile receptor) that responds to a mechanical stimulus (as a change in pressure)
Mech·lin ['me-klən] -n
- a delicate bobbin lace used for dresses and millinery
mec·li·zine ['me-klə-,zēn] -n
- a drug C 25H 27ClN 2used usu. in the form of its hydrochloride to treat vertigo and nausea (as in motion sickness)
me·co·ni·um [mi-'kō-nē-əm] -n
- a dark greenish mass that accumulates in the bowel during fetal life and is discharged shortly after birth
med ['med] -adj
- medical
- medication usu. used in pl.
- medicine
- medieval
- medium
Med -abbr
- Mediterranean
MEd -abbr
- master of education
me·da·ka [mə-'dä-kə] -n
- a small Japanese freshwater fish ( Oryzias latipes) usu. silvery brown in the wild but from pale yellow to deep red in aquarium strains
med·al ['me-dᵊl] -n
- a small usu. metal object bearing a religious emblem or picture
- a piece of metal often resembling a coin and having a stamped design that is issued to commemorate a person or event or awarded for excellence or achievement
medal ['med-liŋ, 'me-dᵊl-iŋ] -vi
- to win a medal
- medal ed in figure skating
Medal for Merit
- a U.S. decoration awarded to civilians for highly meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services
med·al·ist ['me-dᵊl-ist] -n
- a designer, engraver, or maker of medals
- a recipient of a medal as an award
me·dal·lic [mə-'da-lik] -adj
- of, relating to, or shown on a medal
me·dal·lion [mə-'dal-yən] -n
- a large medal
- something resembling a large medal
- a tablet or panel in a wall or window bearing a figure in relief, a portrait, or an ornament
- a small round or oval serving (as of meat)
Medal of Freedom
- a U.S. decoration awarded to civilians for meritorious achievement in any of various fields
Medal of Honor
- a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the Congress for conspicuous intrepidity at the risk of life in action with an enemy
medal play -n
- stroke play
med·dle ['me-dᵊl] -vi, n
- to interest oneself in what is not one's concern : interfere without right or propriety
med·dle·some ['me-dᵊl-səm] -adj, n
- given to meddling
Mede ['mēd] -n
- a native or inhabitant of ancient Media in Persia
Me·dea [mə-'dē-ə] -n
- an enchantress noted in Greek mythology for helping Jason gain the Golden Fleece and for repeatedly resorting to murder to gain her ends
med·e·vac ['me-də-,vak, -dē-] -n
- emergency evacuation of the sick or wounded (as from a combat area)
- a helicopter used for medevac
medevac -vt
- to transport in a medevac helicopter
med·fly ['med-,flī] -n
- mediterranean fruit fly
me·dia ['mē-dē-ə] -n
- a voiced stop
- the middle coat of the wall of a blood or lymph vessel consisting chiefly of circular muscle fibers
media -n
- a medium of cultivation, conveyance, or expression
- medium
- mass media
- members of the mass media
me·di·ad ['mē-dē-,ad] -adv
- toward the median line or plane of a body or part
media event -n
- a publicity event staged for coverage by the news media
me·dia·gen·ic [,mē-dē-ə-'je-nik] -adj
- attractive or well-suited to the communications media
me·di·al ['mē-dē-əl] -adj, n, adv
- mean, average
- being or occurring in the middle
- extending toward the middle
- lying or extending toward the median axis of the body
- situated between the extremes of initial and final in a word or morpheme
medial collateral ligament -n
- a ligament of the inner knee that connects medial parts of the femur and tibia and helps to stabilize the knee joint called also MCL
me·di·an ['mē-dē-ən] -n
- a medial part (as a vein or nerve)
- a value in an ordered set of values below and above which there is an equal number of values or which is the arithmetic mean of the two middle values if there is no one middle number
- a vertical line that divides the histogram of a frequency distribution into two parts of equal area
- a value of a random variable for which all greater values make the cumulative distribution function greater than one half and all lesser values make it less than one half
- a line from a vertex of a triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side
- a line joining the midpoints of the nonparallel sides of a trapezoid
- median strip
median -adj, adv
- being in the middle or in an intermediate position : medial
- lying in the plane dividing a bilateral animal into right and left halves
- relating to or constituting a statistical median
- produced without occlusion along the lengthwise middle line of the tongue
median nerve -n
- a nerve that arises by two roots from the brachial plexus and passes down the middle of the front of the arm
median strip -n
- a paved or planted strip dividing a highway into lanes according to direction of travel
me·di·ant ['mē-dē-ənt] -n
- the third tone of a major or minor scale
me·dia·scape ['mē-dē-ə-,skāp] -n
- the melange of mass media within an area
- the various images, sounds, and programs presented by the mass media
me·di·as·ti·num [,mē-dē-ə-'stī-nəm] -n, adj
- the space in the chest between the pleural sacs of the lungs that contains all the tissues and organs of the chest except the lungs and pleurae
- this space with its contents
me·di·ate ['mē-dē-ət] -adj, n, adv
- occupying a middle position
- acting through an intervening agency
- exhibiting indirect causation, connection, or relation
- to bring accord out of by action as an intermediary
- to effect by action as an intermediary
- to act as intermediary agent in bringing, effecting, or communicating : convey
- to transmit as intermediate mechanism or agency
- to interpose between parties in order to reconcile them
- to reconcile differences
me·di·a·tion [,mē-dē-'ā-shən] -n, adj
- the act or process of mediating
- intervention between conflicting parties to promote reconciliation, settlement, or compromise
me·di·a·tor ['mē-dē-,ā-tər] -n
- one that mediates
- one that mediates between parties at variance
- a mediating agent in a physical, chemical, or biological process
me·di·a·trix [-'ā-triks] -n
- a woman who is a mediator
med·ic ['me-dik] -n
- any of a genus ( Medicago) of leguminous herbs (as alfalfa)
medic -n
- one engaged in medical work or study
- corpsman
med·i·ca·ble ['me-di-kə-bəl] -adj
- curable, remediable
Med·ic·aid ['me-di-,kād] -n
- a program of medical aid designed for those unable to afford regular medical service and financed by the state and federal governments
med·i·cal ['me-di-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or concerned with physicians or the practice of medicine
- requiring or devoted to medical treatment
medical examiner -n
- a public officer who conducts autopsies on bodies to find the cause of death
med·i·cal·ize ['me-di-kə-,līz] -vt, n
- to view or treat as a medical concern, problem, or disorder
- those who seek to dispose of social problems by medicalizing them -- Liam Hudson
me·di·ca·ment [mi-'di-kə-mənt, 'me-di-kə-] -n, adj
- a substance used in therapy
Medi·care ['me-di-,ker] -n
- a government program of medical care esp. for the aged
med·i·cate ['me-də-,kāt] -vt
- to treat medicinally
- to impregnate with a medicinal substance
med·i·ca·tion [,me-də-'kā-shən] -n
- the act or process of medicating
- a medicinal substance : medicament
me·dic·i·na·ble [mi-'dis-nə-bəl, -'di-sə-nə-; in Shak 'med-sə-nə-] -adj
- medicinal
me·dic·i·nal [mə-'dis-nəl, -'di-sᵊn-əl; in Shak & Milton ,me-di-'sī-nᵊl & 'med-sə-nəl] -adj, n, adv
- tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain
- salutary
medicinal leech -n
- a large European freshwater leech ( Hirudo medicinalis) that is a source of hirudin, is sometimes used to drain blood (as from newly grafted tissue), and was formerly used to bleed patients thought to have excess blood
med·i·cine ['me-də-sən, Brit usu 'med-sən] -n, vt
- a substance or preparation used in treating disease
- something that affects well-being
- the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease
- the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease
- a substance (as a drug or potion) used to treat something other than disease
- an object held in traditional American Indian belief to give control over natural or magical forces
- magical power or a magical rite
medicine ball -n
- a heavy usu. large ball used esp. in conditioning and strengthening exercises
medicine dropper -n
- dropper
medicine man -n
- a priestly healer or sorcerer esp. among the American Indians : shaman
medicine show -n
- a traveling show using entertainers to attract a crowd among which remedies or nostrums are sold
med·i·co ['me-di-,kō] -n
- physician
- a medical student
med·i·co·le·gal [,me-di-kō-'lē-gəl] -adj
- of or relating to both medicine and law
me·di·e·val [,mē-'dē-vəl, mi-, ,me-, -dē-'ē-vəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the Middle Ages
- having a quality (as cruelty) associated with the Middle Ages
- extremely outmoded or antiquated
medieval -n
- a person of the Middle Ages
me·di·e·val·ism [-və-,li-zəm] -n
- medieval quality, character, or state
- devotion to the institutions, arts, and practices of the Middle Ages
me·di·e·val·ist [-'dēv-list, -'dē-və-, -dē-'ēv-, -dē-'ē-və-] -n
- a specialist in medieval history and culture
- a connoisseur or devotee of medieval arts and culture
Medieval Latin -n
- the Latin used esp. for liturgical and literary purposes from the 7th to the 15th centuries inclusive
med·i·gap ['me-də-,gap] -n
- supplemental health insurance that covers costs (as of medical care or a hospital stay) not covered by Medicare
me·di·na [mə-'dē-nə] -n
- the non-European part of a northern African city
me·di·o·cre [,mē-dē-'ō-kər] -adj
- of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance : ordinary, so-so
me·di·oc·ri·ty [,mē-dē-'ä-krə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being mediocre
- moderate ability or value
- a mediocre person
med·i·tate ['me-də-,tāt] -vb, n
- to engage in contemplation or reflection
- to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness
- to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over
- to plan or project in the mind : intend, purpose
med·i·ta·tion [,me-də-'tā-shən] -n
- a discourse intended to express its author's reflections or to guide others in contemplation
- the act or process of meditating
med·i·ta·tive ['me-də-,tā-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- marked by or conducive to meditation
- disposed or given to meditation
Med·i·ter·ra·nean [,me-də-tə-'rā-nē-ən, -nyən] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the Mediterranean Sea
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the peoples, lands, or cultures bordering the Mediterranean Sea
- enclosed or nearly enclosed with land
- of or relating to a group or physical type of the Caucasian race characterized by medium or short stature, slender build, dolichocephaly, and dark complexion
Mediterranean flour moth -n
- a small largely gray and black nearly cosmopolitan pyralid moth ( Anagasta kuehniella) whose larva destroys processed grain products
Mediterranean fruit fly -n
- a small widely distributed yellowish-brown dipteran fly ( Ceratitis capitata) with a banded abdomen whose larva lives and feeds in ripening fruit called also medfly
me·di·um ['mē-dē-əm] -n
- something in a middle position
- a middle condition or degree : mean
- : a means of effecting or conveying something: as
- a substance regarded as the means of transmission of a force or effect
- a surrounding or enveloping substance
- the tenuous material (as gas and dust) in space that exists outside large agglomerations of matter (as stars)
- a channel or system of communication, information, or entertainment
- a publication or broadcast that carries advertising
- a mode of artistic expression or communication
- something (as a magnetic disk) on which information may be stored
- go-between, intermediary
- an individual held to be a channel of communication between the earthly world and a world of spirits
- material or technical means of artistic expression
- a condition or environment in which something may function or flourish
- a nutrient system for the artificial cultivation of cells or organisms and esp. bacteria
- a fluid or solid in which organic structures are placed (as for preservation or mounting)
- a liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painter
medium -adj
- intermediate in quantity, quality, position, size, or degree
medium frequency -n
- a radio frequency between high frequency and low frequency
me·di·um·is·tic [,mē-dē-ə-'mis-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or having the qualities of a spiritualistic medium
medium of exchange
- something commonly accepted in exchange for goods and services and recognized as representing a standard of value
me·di·um·ship ['mē-dē-əm-,ship] -n
- the capacity, function, or profession of a spiritualistic medium
medivac ['me-də-,vak, -dē-] -n
(variant of medevac)
- emergency evacuation of the sick or wounded (as from a combat area)
- a helicopter used for medevac
med·lar ['med-lər] -n
- a small deciduous Eurasian tree ( Mespilus germanica) of the rose family whose fruit resembles a crab apple and is used in preserves
- its fruit
med·ley ['med-lē] -n
- melee
- a diverse assortment or mixture
- hodgepodge
- a musical composition made up of a series of songs or short pieces
medley -adj
- mixed, motley
medley relay -n
- a relay race in swimming in which each member of a team uses a different stroke
Me·doc [mā-'däk, -'dȯk] -n
- a Bordeaux wine made in the Medoc district of France
me·dul·la [mə-'də-lə] -n
- bone marrow
- medulla oblongata
- the inner or deep part of an animal or plant structure
- myelin sheath
medulla ob·lon·ga·ta [-,ä-,blȯŋ-'gä-tə] -n
- the part of the vertebrate brain that is continuous posteriorly with the spinal cord and that contains the centers controlling involuntary vital functions
med·ul·lary ['me-də-,ler-ē, 'me-jə-; mə-'də-lə-rē] -adj
- of or relating to the pith of a plant
- of or relating to a medulla and esp. the medulla oblongata
medullary ray -n
- a primary tissue composed of radiating bands of parenchyma cells extending between the vascular bundles of herbaceous dicotyledonous stems and connecting the pith with the cortex
- vascular ray
medullary sheath -n
- myelin sheath
med·ul·lat·ed ['me-də-,lā-təd, 'me-jə-] -adj
- myelinated
- having a medulla used of fibers other than nerve fibers
me·dul·lo·blas·to·ma [mə-,də-lō-,blas-'tō-mə] -n
- a malignant tumor of the central nervous system arising in the cerebellum esp. in children
me·du·sa [mi-'dü-sə, -'dyü-, -zə] -n, adj or n
- a mortal Gorgon who is slain when decapitated by Perseus
- jellyfish
meed ['mēd] -n
- an earned reward or wage
- a fitting return or recompense
meek ['mēk] -adj, adv, n
- enduring injury with patience and without resentment : mild
- deficient in spirit and courage : submissive
- not violent or strong : moderate
meer·kat ['mir-,kat] -n
- any of several African mongooses
- a burrowing highly social primarily insectivorous mammal ( Suricata suricatta) of southern Africa that is chiefly grayish with faint black markings and lives in usu. large colonies
meer·schaum ['mir-shəm, -,shȯm] -n
- a fine light white clayey mineral that is a hydrous magnesium silicate found chiefly in Asia Minor and is used esp. for tobacco pipes
- a tobacco pipe of meerschaum
meet ['mēt] -vb, n
- to come into the presence of : find
- to come together with esp. at a particular time or place
- I'll meet you at the station
- to come into contact or conjunction with : join
- to appear to the perception of
- to encounter as antagonist or foe : oppose
- to enter into conference, argument, or personal dealings with
- to conform to esp. with exactitude and precision
- a concept to meet all requirements
- to pay fully : settle
- to cope with
- was able to meet every social situation
- to provide for
- enough money to meet our needs
- to become acquainted with
- encounter, experience
- to receive or greet in an official capacity
- to come face-to-face
- to come together for a common purpose : assemble
- to come together as contestants, opponents, or enemies
- to form a junction or confluence
- the lines meet in a point
- to occur together
- the act of assembling for a hunt or for competitive sports
- a competition in which individuals match skills
- precisely adapted to a particular situation, need, or circumstance : very proper
meet and greet -n
- a reception at which a public figure (as a politician or rock star) socializes with press members and other guests
meeting -n
- : an act or process of coming together: as
- an assembly for a common purpose (as worship)
- a session of horse or dog racing
- a permanent organizational unit of the Society of Friends
- intersection, junction
meet·ing·house [-,hau̇s] -n
- a building used for public assembly and esp. for Protestant worship
meeting of minds
- agreement, concord
mef·e·nam·ic acid [,me-fə-'na-mik-] -n
- a drug C 15H 15NO 2used as an anti-inflammatory agent
mef·lo·quine ['mef-lə-,kwīn] -n
- an antimalarial drug C 17H 16F 6N 2O similar to quinine that is administered in the form of its hydrochloride
meg ['meg] -n
- megabyte
- megohm
MEG -abbr
- magnetoencephalography
mega ['me-gə] -adj
- vast
- of the highest level of rank, excellence, or importance
- a number one hit made her mega
mega- -comb form
- great : large
- greatly surpassing others of its kind
- million (10 6)
mega·bar ['me-gə-,bär] -n
- a unit of pressure equal to one million bars
mega·bit [-,bit] -n
- one million bits
mega·buck [-,bək] -n
- one million dollars
- an indeterminately large sum of money usu. used in pl.
mega·byte [-,bīt] -n
- 1024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes
- one million bytes
mega·city [-,si-tē] -n
- megalopolis
mega·cor·po·ra·tion [,me-gə-,kȯr-pə-'rā-shən] -n
- a huge and powerful corporation
mega·cy·cle ['me-gə-,sī-kəl] -n
- one million cycles
- megahertz
mega·deal [-,dēl] -n
- a business deal involving a lot of money
mega·death [-,deth] -n
- one million deaths usu. used as a unit in reference to nuclear warfare
mega·dose [-,dōs] -n
- a large dose (as of a vitamin)
mega·fau·na [-,fȯ-nə, -,fä-] -n, adj
- animals (as bears, bison, or mammoths) of particularly large size
- fauna consisting of individuals large enough to be visible to the naked eye
mega·ga·mete [,me-gə-'ga-,mēt also -gə-'mēt] -n
- macrogamete
mega·ga·me·to·phyte [-gə-'mē-tə-,fīt] -n
- the female gametophyte produced by a megaspore
mega·hertz ['me-gə-,hərts, -,herts] -n
- a unit of frequency equal to one million hertz abbr. MHz
mega·hit [-,hit] -n
- something (as a motion picture) that is extremely successful
mega·kar·yo·cyte [,me-gə-'ka-rē-ō-,sīt] -n, adj
- a large cell that has a lobulated nucleus, is found esp. in the bone marrow, and is the source of blood platelets
megal- -comb form
- large : of giant size: grandiose
mega·lith ['me-gə-,lith] -n, adj
- a very large usu. rough stone used in prehistoric cultures as a monument or building block
meg·a·lo·blast ['me-gə-lō-,blast] -n, adj
- a large erythroblast that appears in the blood esp. in pernicious anemia
meg·a·lo·ma·nia [,me-gə-lō-'mā-nē-ə, -nyə] -n, adj or n, adj, adv
- a mania for great or grandiose performance
- a delusional mental disorder that is marked by feelings of personal omnipotence and grandeur
meg·a·lop·o·lis [,me-gə-'lä-pə-ləs] -n, n or adj
- a very large city
- a thickly populated region centering in a metropolis or embracing several metropolises
mega·merg·er ['me-gə-,mər-jər] -n
- a merger of megacorporations
mega·par·sec [,me-gə-'pär-,sek] -n
- a unit of measure for distances in intergalactic space equal to one million parsecs
mega·phone ['me-gə-,fōn] -n, adj
- a cone-shaped device used to intensify or direct the voice
megaphone -vt
- to transmit or address through or as if through a megaphone
- to speak through or as if through a megaphone
mega·pixel ['me-gə-,pik-səl, -,sel] -n
- one million pixels
mega·plex [-,pleks] -n
- a large multiplex typically housing 16 or more movie theaters
mega·proj·ect [-,prä-,jekt, -jikt also -,prō-] -n
- a major project or undertaking (as in business or construction)
Me·gar·i·an [mə-'ga-rē-ən, me-] -adj, n
- of or relating to a Socratic school of philosophy founded by Euclid of Megara and noted for its subtle attention to logic
Me·gar·ic [-'ga-rik] -adj, n
- megarian
mega·scop·ic [,me-gə-'skä-pik] -adj, adv
- macroscopic
- based on or relating to observations made with the unaided eye
mega·spo·ran·gi·um [,me-gə-spə-'ran-jē-əm] -n
- a sporangium that develops only megaspores
mega·spore ['me-gə-,spȯr] -n, adj
- a spore in heterosporous plants giving rise to female gametophytes and usu. larger than a microspore
mega·spo·ro·gen·e·sis [,me-gə-,spȯr-ə-'je-nə-səs] -n
- the formation and maturation of a megaspore
mega·spo·ro·phyll [-'spȯr-ə-,fil] -n
- a sporophyll that develops only megasporangia
mega·star ['me-gə-,stär] -n
- superstar
mega·ton ['me-gə-,tən] -n
- an explosive force equivalent to that of one million tons of TNT
mega·ton·nage [-,tə-nij] -n
- the destructive capability esp. of a collection of nuclear weapons that is expressed in megatons
mega·vi·ta·min [,me-gə-'vī-tə-mən, Brit usu -'vi-] -adj
- relating to or consisting of very large doses of vitamins
mega·vi·ta·mins [-mənz] -n pl
- a large quantity of vitamins
mega·watt ['me-gə-,wät] -n
- one million watts
me·gil·lah [mə-'gi-lə] -n
- a long involved story or account
me·gilp [mə-'gilp] -n
- a gelatinous preparation commonly of linseed oil and mastic varnish that is used by artists as a vehicle for oil colors
MEGO -abbr
- my eyes glaze over
meg·ohm ['meg-,ōm] -n
- one million ohms
me·grim ['mē-grəm] -n
- migraine
- vertigo, dizziness
- fancy, whim
- low spirits
Mei·ji ['mā-(,)jē] -n
- the period of the reign (18681912) of Emperor Mutsuhito of Japan
meikle ['mi-kəl] -adj, adv
(variant of mickle)
- great, much
mei·ny -n
- retinue, company
- multitude
mei·o·sis [mī-'ō-səs] -n, adj, adv
- the presentation of a thing with underemphasis esp. in order to achieve a greater effect : understatement
- the cellular process that results in the number of chromosomes in gamete-producing cells being reduced to one half and that involves a reduction division in which one of each pair of homologous chromosomes passes to each daughter cell and a mitotic division
Meis·sen ['mī-sᵊn] -n
- a ceramic ware made at Meissen near Dresden
- a European porcelain developed under the patronage of the king of Saxony about 1715 and used for both ornamental and table wares called also Meissen china Meissen ware
meis·ter ['mīs-tər] -n
- one who is knowledgeable about something specified often used in combination
Meis·ter·sing·er ['mīs-tər-,siŋ-ər, -,ziŋ-] -n
- a member of any of various German guilds formed chiefly in the 15th and 16th centuries by workingmen and craftsmen for the cultivation of poetry and music
meit·ner·i·um [mīt-'nir-ē-əm, -'ner-] -n
- a short-lived radioactive element produced artificially
MEK -abbr
- methyl ethyl ketone
mel·a·leu·ca [,me-lə-'l(y)ü-kə] -n
- any of genus ( Melaleuca) of Australian and East Indian trees and shrubs of the myrtle family
- cajeput
mel·a·mine ['me-lə-,mēn] -n
- a white crystalline organic base C 3H 6N 6with a high melting point that is used esp. in melamine resins
- a melamine resin or a plastic made from such a resin
melamine resin -n
- a thermosetting resin made from melamine and an aldehyde and used esp. in molded or laminated products, adhesives, and coatings
melan- -comb form
- black : dark
- melanin
mel·an·cho·lia [,me-lən-'kō-lē-ə] -n
- a mental condition and esp. a manic-depressive condition characterized by extreme depression, bodily complaints, and often hallucinations and delusions
mel·an·chol·ic [,me-lən-'kä-lik] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or subject to melancholy : depressed
- of or relating to melancholia
- tending to depress the spirits : saddening
mel·an·choly ['me-lən-,kä-lē] -n
- an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression
- black bile
- melancholia
- depression of spirits : dejection
- a pensive mood
melancholy -adj
- suggestive or expressive of melancholy
- sang in a melancholy voice
- causing or tending to cause sadness or depression of mind or spirit : dismal
- depressed in spirits : dejected, sad
- pensive
Mel·a·ne·sian [,me-lə-'nē-zhən, -shən] -n, adj
- a member of the dominant native group of Melanesia
- a language group consisting of the Austronesian languages of Melanesia
me·lange [mā-'läⁿzh, -'länj] -n
- a mixture often of incongruous elements
me·lan·ic [mə-'la-nik] -adj
- melanotic
- affected with, causing, or characterized by melanism
melanic -n
- a melanic individual
mel·a·nin ['me-lə-nən] -n
- any of various black, dark brown, reddish-brown, or yellow pigments of animal or plant structures (as skin or hair)
mel·a·nism ['me-lə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj
- an increased amount of black or nearly black pigmentation (as of skin, feathers, or hair) of an individual or kind of organism
- intense human pigmentation of the skin, eyes, and hair
mel·a·nite ['me-lə-,nīt] -n, adj
- a black andradite garnet
mel·a·nize ['me-lə-,nīz] -vt, n
- to convert into or infiltrate with melanin
- to make dark or black
me·la·no·blast [mə-'la-nə-,blast, 'me-lə-nō-] -n
- a cell that is a precursor of a melanocyte or melanophore
me·la·no·cyte [mə-'la-nə-,sīt, 'me-lə-nō-] -n
- an epidermal cell that produces melanin
melanocytestimulating hormone -n
- any of several vertebrate hormones of the pituitary gland that darken the skin by stimulating melanin dispersion in pigment-containing cells
me·la·no·gen·e·sis [mə-,la-nə-'je-nə-səs, ,me-lə-nō-] -n
- the formation of melanin
mel·a·no·ma [,me-lə-'nō-mə] -n
- a tumor containing dark pigment
- a highly malignant tumor that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely
me·la·no·phore [mə-'la-nə-,fȯr, 'me-lə-nə-] -n
- a melanin-containing cell esp. of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles
me·la·no·some [-,sōm] -n
- a melanin-producing granule in a melanocyte
mel·a·not·ic [,me-lə-'nä-tik] -adj
- having or characterized by black pigmentation
mel·a·to·nin [,me-lə-'tō-nən] -n
- a vertebrate hormone that is derived from serotonin, is secreted by the pineal gland esp. in response to darkness, and has been linked to the regulation of circadian rhythms
mel·ba toast ['mel-bə-] -n
- very thin crisp toast
Mel·chite ['mel-,kīt] -n
- an Eastern Christian chiefly of Syria and Egypt adhering to Chalcedonian orthodoxy in preference to Monophysitism
- a member of a Uniate body derived from the Melchites
Mel·chiz·e·dek [mel-'ki-zə-,dek] -n
- a priest-king of Jerusalem who prepared a ritual meal for Abraham and received tithes from him
Melchizedek -adj
- of or relating to the higher order of the Mormon priesthood
meld ['meld] -vb
- to declare or announce (a card or combination of cards) for a score in a card game esp. by placing face up on the table
- to declare a card or combination of cards as a meld
- a card or combination of cards that is or can be melded in a card game
- merge, blend
- blend, mixture
me·lee ['mā-,lā, mā-'] -n
- a confused struggle
- a hand-to-hand fight among several people
mel·ic ['me-lik] -adj
- of or relating to song : lyric
- of or relating to Greek lyric poetry of the seventh and sixth centuries b.c.
mel·i·lot ['me-lə-,lät] -n
- sweet clover
- a yellow-flowered sweet clover ( Melilotus officinalis)
me·lio·rate ['mēl-yə-,rāt, 'mē-lē-ə-] -vb, n, adj
- ameliorate
me·lio·rism ['mēl-yə-,ri-zəm, 'mē-lē-ə-] -n, adj or n, adj
- the belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment
me·lis·ma [mi-'liz-mə] -n, adj
- a group of notes or tones sung on one syllable in plainsong
- melodic embellishment
- cadenza
mell ['mel] -vb
- mix
mel·lif·lu·ent [me-'li-flə-wənt] -adj, adv
- mellifluous
mel·lif·lu·ous [me-'li-flə-wəs, mə-] -adj, adv, n
- having a smooth rich flow
- filled with something (as honey) that sweetens
mel·lo·phone ['me-lə-,fōn] -n
- a valved brass instrument similar in form and range to the French horn
mel·lo·tron ['me-lə-,trän] -n
- an electronic keyboard instrument programmed to produce the tape-recorded sounds usu. of orchestral instruments
mel·low ['me-(,)lō] -adj, adv, n
- tender and sweet because of ripeness
- well aged and pleasingly mild
- made gentle by age or experience
- rich and full but free from garishness or stridency
- warmed and relaxed by or as if by liquor
- pleasant, agreeable
- laid-back
- having a soft and loamy consistency
mellow -vt
- to make mellow
- to become mellow often used with out
me·lo·de·on [mə-'lō-dē-ən] -n
- a small reed organ in which a suction bellows draws air inward through the reeds
me·lo·di·ous [mə-'lō-dē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- having a pleasing melody
- of, relating to, or producing melody
mel·o·dist ['me-lə-dist] -n
- singer
- a composer of melodies
mel·o·dize ['me-lə-,dīz] -vb, n
- to compose a melody
- to make melodious : set to melody
melo·dra·ma ['me-lə-,drä-mə, -,dra-] -n
- a work (as a movie or play) characterized by extravagant theatricality and by the predominance of plot and physical action over characterization
- the genre of dramatic literature constituted by such works
- something resembling a melodrama esp. in having a sensational or theatrical quality
melo·dra·mat·ic [,me-lə-drə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characteristic of melodrama
- appealing to the emotions : sensational
melo·dra·mat·ics [-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- melodramatic conduct or writing
melo·dra·ma·tise [,me-lə-'dra-mə-,tīz, -'drä-] -vt, n
(variant of melodramatize)
- to make melodramatic
- melodramatize a situation
- to make a melodrama of (as a novel)
melo·dra·ma·tize [,me-lə-'dra-mə-,tīz, -'drä-] -vt, n
- to make melodramatic
- melodramatize a situation
- to make a melodrama of (as a novel)
mel·o·dy ['me-lə-dē] -n, adj, adv
- a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds : tunefulness
- a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole
mel·on ['me-lən] -n
- any of various typically sweet gourds (as a muskmelon or watermelon) usu. eaten raw as fruits
- : something rounded like a melon: as
- the rounded organ in the front of the head of some cetaceans
- large breasts
- a surplus of profits available for distribution to stockholders
- a financial windfall
melon baller -n
- a spoonlike utensil with a sharp edge used esp. for cutting ball-shaped pieces from the pulp of a fruit
mel·pha·lan ['mel-fə-,lan] -n
- an antineoplastic drug C 13H 18Cl 2N 2O 2
Mel·pom·e·ne [mel-'pä-mə-(,)nē] -n
- the Greek Muse of tragedy
melt ['melt] -vb, n, adj
- to become altered from a solid to a liquid state usu. by heat
- dissolve, disintegrate
- the sugar melt ed in the coffee
- to disappear as if by dissolving
- her anger melt ed at his kind words
- to become subdued or crushed (as by sorrow)
- to become mild, tender, or gentle
- to lose outline or distinctness : blend
- to reduce from a solid to a liquid state usu. by heat
- to cause to disappear or disperse
- to make tender or gentle : soften
- material in the molten state
- the mass melted at a single operation or the quantity melted during a specified period
- the action or process of melting or the period during which it occurs
- the condition of being melted
- a sandwich with melted cheese
- spleen
- spleen of slaughtered animals for use as feed or food
melt·down ['melt-,dau̇n] -n
- the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor
- a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse
- a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)
melt down -vi
- to suffer a meltdown : collapse
melt·ing ['mel-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- tender, delicate
- a love song's melting lyric
melting point -n
- the temperature at which a solid melts
melting pot -n, adj
- a place where a variety of races, cultures, or individuals assimilate into a cohesive whole
- the population of such a place
- a process of blending that often results in invigoration or novelty
mel·ton ['mel-tᵊn] -n
- a heavy smooth woolen fabric with short nap
melt·wa·ter ['melt-,wȯ-tər, -,wä-] -n
- water derived from the melting of ice and snow
mem ['mem] -n
- the 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
- member
- memoir
- memorial
mem·ber ['mem-bər] -n
- : a body part or organ: as
- limb
- penis
- a unit of structure in a plant body
- one of the individuals composing a group
- a person baptized or enrolled in a church
- : a part of a whole: as
- a syntactic or rhythmic unit of a sentence : clause
- one of the propositions of a syllogism
- one of the elements of a set or class
- either of the equated elements in a mathematical equation
mem·bered ['mem-bərd] -adj
- made up of or divided into members
mem·ber·ship ['mem-bər-,ship] -n
- the state or status of being a member
- the body of members
- an organization with a large membership
- the relation between an element of a set or class and the set or class
mem·brane ['mem-,brān] -n, adj
- a thin soft pliable sheet or layer esp. of animal or plant origin
- a piece of parchment forming part of a roll
mem·bra·nous ['mem-brə-nəs] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or resembling membrane
- thin, pliable, and often somewhat transparent
- characterized or accompanied by the formation of a usu. abnormal membrane or membranous layer
membranous labyrinth -n
- the sensory structures of the inner ear
meme ['mēm] -n
- an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture
me·men·to [mə-'men-(,)tō, ÷mō-] -n
- something that serves to warn or remind
- souvenir
me·men·to mo·ri [mə-'men-tō-'mȯr-ē] -n
- a reminder of mortality
- death's-head
Mem·non ['mem-,nän] -n
- an Ethiopian king slain by Achilles at a late stage of the Trojan War
memo ['me-(,)mō] -n
- memorandum
mem·oir ['mem-,wär, -,wȯr] -n
- an official note or report : memorandum
- a narrative composed from personal experience
- autobiography usu. used in pl.
- biography
- an account of something noteworthy : report
- the record of the proceedings of a learned society
mem·o·ra·bil·ia [,me-mə-rə-'bi-lē-ə, -'bē-lē-ə, -'bil-yə] -n pl
- things that are remarkable and worthy of remembrance
- things that stir recollection or are valued or collected for their association with a particular field or interest : mementos
mem·o·ra·bil·i·ty [-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being easy to remember or worth remembering
mem·o·ra·ble ['mem-rə-bəl, 'mə-mə-rə-, 'me-mər-] -adj, n, adv
- worth remembering : notable
mem·o·ran·dum [,me-mə-'ran-dəm] -n
- an informal record
- a written reminder
- an informal written note of a transaction or proposed instrument
- an informal diplomatic communication
- a usu. brief communication written for interoffice circulation
- a communication that contains directive, advisory, or informative matter
me·mo·ri·al [mə-'mȯr-ē-əl] -adj, adv
- serving to preserve remembrance : commemorative
- of or relating to memory
memorial -n
- : something that keeps remembrance alive: as
- monument
- something (as a speech or ceremony) that commemorates
- keepsake, memento
- record, memoir
- language and literature...the memorial s of another age -- J. H. Fisher
- memorandum, note
- a legal abstract
- a statement of facts addressed to a government and often accompanied by a petition or remonstrance
Memorial Day -n
- May 30 formerly observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S. in remembrance of war dead
- the last Monday in May observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S.
- confederate memorial day
me·mo·ri·al·ise [-,līz] -vt, n
(variant of memorialize)
- to address or petition by a memorial
- commemorate
me·mo·ri·al·ist [mə-'mȯr-ē-ə-list] -n
- a person who writes or signs a memorial
- a person who writes a memoir
me·mo·ri·al·ize [-,līz] -vt, n
- to address or petition by a memorial
- commemorate
memorial park -n
- cemetery
me·mo·ri·ter [mə-'mȯr-ə-,ter, -'mär-] -adj
- marked by emphasis on memorization
mem·o·rise ['me-mə-,rīz] -vt, adj, n
(variant of memorize)
- to commit to memory : learn by heart
mem·o·rize ['me-mə-,rīz] -vt, adj, n
- to commit to memory : learn by heart
mem·o·ry ['mem-rē, 'me-mə-] -n
- the power or process of reproducing or recalling what has been learned and retained esp. through associative mechanisms
- the store of things learned and retained from an organism's activity or experience as evidenced by modification of structure or behavior or by recall and recognition
- commemorative remembrance
- erected a statue in memory of the hero
- the fact or condition of being remembered
- a particular act of recall or recollection
- an image or impression of one that is remembered
- fond memories of her youth
- the time within which past events can be or are remembered
- a device (as a chip) or a component of a device in which information esp. for a computer can be inserted and stored and from which it may be extracted when wanted
- ram
- capacity for storing information
- a capacity for showing effects as the result of past treatment or for returning to a former condition used esp. of a material (as metal or plastic)
memory foam -n
- a dense polyurethane foam that becomes more pliable when in contact with heat
memory lane -n
- an imaginary path through the nostalgically remembered past usu. used in such phrases as a walk down memory lane
memory trace -n
- engram
mem·sa·hib ['mem-,sä-,(h)ib, -,säb] -n
- a white foreign woman of high social status living in India
- the wife of a British official
men ['man, in compounds ,man or mən] -n, adj
(variant of man)
- an individual human
- an adult male human
- a man belonging to a particular category (as by birth, residence, membership, or occupation) usu. used in combination
- husband
- lover
- the human race : humankind
- a bipedal primate mammal ( Homo sapiens) that is anatomically related to the great apes but distinguished esp. by notable development of the brain with a resultant capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning, is usu. considered to form a variable number of freely interbreeding races, and is the sole living representative of the hominid family
- any living or extinct hominid
- one possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of manhood
- the quality or state of being manly : manliness
- fellow, chap used as mode of familiar address
- used interjectionally to express intensity of feeling
- individual, person
- a man could get killed there
- the individual who can fulfill or who has been chosen to fulfill one's requirements
- a feudal tenant : vassal
- an adult male servant
- the working force as distinguished from the employer and usu. the management
- one of the distinctive objects moved by each player in various board games
- one of the players on a team
- an alumnus of or student at a college or university
- the compound idea of infinite Spirit : the spiritual image and likeness of God : the full representation of Mind
- police
- when I heard the siren, I knew it was the Man -- Amer. Speech
- the white establishment : white society
- surprise that any black...should take on so about The Man -- Peter Goldman
- one extremely fond of or devoted to something specified
- strictly a vanilla ice cream man
- to supply with people (as for service)
- to station members of a ship's crew at
- to serve in the force or complement of
- to accustom (as a hawk) to humans and the human environment
- to furnish with strength or powers of resistance : brace
- manual
men- -comb form
- menstruation
men·ace ['me-nəs] -n
- a show of intention to inflict harm : threat
- one that represents a threat : danger
- an annoying person
menace [-nə-siŋ-lē] -vb, adv
- to make a show of intention to harm
- to represent or pose a threat to : endanger
- to act in a threatening manner
men·a·di·one [,me-nə-'dī-,ōn, -dī-'] -n
- a yellow crystalline compound C 11H 8O 2with the biological activity of natural vitamin K
me·nage [mā-'näzh, mə-] -n
- a domestic establishment : household
- housekeeping
me·nage a trois [-ä-'t(r)wä] -n
- an arrangement in which three persons (as a married pair and the lover of one of the pair) share sexual relations esp. while living together
me·nag·er·ie [mə-'naj-rē, -'na-jə- also -'nazh-rē, -'na-zhə-] -n
- a place where animals are kept and trained esp. for exhibition
- a collection of wild or foreign animals kept esp. for exhibition
- a varied mixture
- a menagerie of comedians -- TV Guide
men·ar·che ['me-,när-kē] -n, adj
- the beginning of the menstrual function
- the first menstrual period of an individual
mend ['mend] -vb, adj, n
- : to free from faults or defects: as
- to improve in manners or morals : reform
- to set right : correct
- to put into good shape or working order again : patch up : repair
- to improve or strengthen (as a relationship) by negotiation or conciliation used chiefly in the phrase mend fences
- spends the weekend mend ing political fences -- E. O. Hauser
- to restore to health : cure
- to make amends or atonement for
- least said, soonest mend ed
- to improve morally : reform
- to become corrected or improved
- to improve in health
- heal
- an act of mending : repair
- a mended place
men·da·cious [men-'dā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- given to or characterized by deception or falsehood or divergence from absolute truth
- mendacious tales of his adventures
men·dac·i·ty [men-'da-sə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being mendacious
- lie
Men·de ['men-dē, -dā] -n
- a Mande language of southern Sierra Leone and eastern Liberia
- a member of a people speaking Mende
men·de·le·vi·um [,men-də-'lē-vē-əm, -'lā-] -n
- a radioactive metallic element produced artificially
Men·de·lian [men-'dē-lē-ən, -'dēl-yən] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or according with Mendel's laws or Mendelism
Mendelian factor -n
- gene
Mendelian inheritance -n
- inheritance of characters specif. transmitted by genes in accord with Mendel's laws called also particulate inheritance
Men·del·ism ['men-dᵊl-,i-zəm] -n, adj or n
- the principles or the operations of Mendel's laws
- Mendelian inheritance
Men·del's law ['men-dᵊlz-] -n
- a principle in genetics: hereditary units occur in pairs that separate during gamete formation so that every gamete receives but one member of a pair called also law of segregation
- a principle in genetics limited and modified by the subsequent discovery of the phenomenon of linkage: the different pairs of hereditary units are distributed to the gametes independently of each other, the gametes combine at random, and the various combinations of hereditary pairs occur in the zygotes according to the laws of chance called also law of independent assortment
- a principle in genetics proved subsequently to be subject to many limitations: because one of each pair of hereditary units dominates the other in expression, characters are inherited alternatively on an all-or-nothing basis called also law of dominance
men·di·can·cy ['men-di-kən(t)-sē] -n
- the condition of being a beggar
- the practice of begging
men·di·cant ['men-di-kənt] -n, adj
- beggar
- a member of a religious order (as the Franciscans) combining monastic life and outside religious activity and orig. owning neither personal nor community property : friar
men·dic·i·ty [men-'di-sə-tē] -n
- mendicancy
Men·e·la·us [,me-nə-'lā-əs] -n
- a king of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, and husband of the abducted Helen of Troy
men·folk ['men-,fōk] -n pl
- men in general
- the men of a family or community
MEng -abbr
- master of engineering
men·ha·den [men-'hā-dᵊn, mən-] -n
- a marine fish ( Brevoortia tyrannus) of the herring family abundant along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. where it is used for bait or converted into oil and fertilizer
- any of several congeneric fishes
men·hir ['men-,hir] -n
- a single upright rough monolith usu. of prehistoric origin
me·nial ['mē-nē-əl, -nyəl] -n
- a person doing menial work
- a domestic servant or retainer
menial -adj, adv
- of or relating to servants : lowly
- appropriate to a servant : humble, servile
- lacking interest or dignity
Me·niere's disease [mən-'yerz-, 'men-yərz-] -n
- a disorder of the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear that is marked by recurrent attacks of dizziness, tinnitus, and hearing loss called also Meniere's syndrome
mening- -comb form
- meninges
- meninges and
men·in·ge·al [,me-nən-'jē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or affecting the meninges
meninges ['mē-niŋ(k)s, 'me-] -n
(variant of meninx)
- any of the three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord
me·nin·gi·o·ma [mə-,nin-jē-'ō-mə] -n
- a slow-growing encapsulated typically benign tumor arising from the meninges and often causing damage by pressing upon the brain and adjacent parts
men·in·gi·tis [,me-nən-'jī-təs] -n, adj
- inflammation of the meninges and esp. of the pia mater and the arachnoid
- a disease marked by inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild illness caused by a virus (as various Coxsackie viruses) or a more severe life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (as the meningococcus)
me·nin·go·coc·cus [mə-,niŋ-gə-'kä-kəs, -,nin-jə-] -n, adj
- the bacterium ( Neisseria meningitidis) that causes cerebrospinal meningitis
me·nin·go·en·ceph·a·li·tis [-gō-ən-,se-fə-'lī-təs, -jō-] -n, adj
- inflammation of the brain and meninges
me·ninx ['mē-niŋ(k)s, 'me-] -n
- any of the three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord
me·nis·cus [mə-'nis-kəs] -n
- a crescent or crescent-shaped body
- a concavo-convex lens
- the curved upper surface of a column of liquid
- a fibrous cartilage within a joint esp. of the knee
Men·no·nite ['me-nə-,nīt] -n
- a member of any of various Protestant groups derived from the Anabaptist movement in Holland and characterized by congregational autonomy and rejection of military service
me·no mos·so [,mā-nō-'mȯ(s)-(,)sō] -adv
- less rapid used as a direction in music
men·o·pause ['me-nə-,pȯz, 'mē-] -n, adj
- the natural cessation of menstruation that usu. occurs between the ages of 45 and 55
- the period during which such cessation occurs called also climacteric
- cessation of menstruation from other than natural causes
me·no·rah [mə-'nȯr-ə] -n
- a candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used in Jewish worship
men·or·rha·gia [,me-nə-'rā-j(ē-)ə, -'rā-zhə; -'rä-jə, -zhə] -n
- abnormally profuse menstrual flow
men·sal ['men(t)-səl] -adj
- of, relating to, or done at the table
mensch ['men(t)sh] -n, adj
- a person of integrity and honor
mense ['men(t)s] -n, adj
- propriety
men·ses ['men-(,)sēz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- the menstrual flow
Men·she·vik ['men(t)-shə-,vik, -,vēk] -n, n or adj
- a member of a wing of the Russian Social Democratic party before and during the Russian Revolution believing in the gradual achievement of socialism by parliamentary methods in opposition to the Bolsheviks
mens rea ['menz-'rē-ə, -'rā-ə] -n
- criminal intent
men's room -n
- a room equipped with one or more sinks, toilets, and usu. urinals for the use of men and boys
men·stru·al ['men(t)-strü-əl, -strəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to menstruation
menstrual cycle -n
- the cycle of physiological changes from the beginning of one menstrual period to the beginning of the next
men·stru·ate ['men(t)-strü-,wāt, 'men-,strāt] -vi
- to undergo menstruation
men·stru·a·tion [,men(t)-strü-'wā-shən, men-'strā-] -n
- a discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus that recurs in nonpregnant breeding-age primate females at approximately monthly intervals and that is considered to represent a readjustment of the uterus to the nonpregnant state following proliferative changes accompanying the preceding ovulation
- period
men·stru·um ['men(t)-strü-əm, -strəm] -n
- a substance that dissolves a solid or holds it in suspension : solvent
men·su·ra·ble ['men(t)s-rə-bəl, 'men(t)sh-; 'men(t)-sə-rə-, -shə-] -adj, n
- capable of being measured : measurable
- mensural
men·su·ral ['men(t)s-rəl, 'men(t)sh-; 'men(t)-sə-rəl, -shə-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being polyphonic music originating in the 13th century with each note having a definite and exact time value
- of or relating to measure
men·su·ra·tion [,men(t)-sə-'rā-shən, -shə-] -n
- the act of measuring : measurement
- geometry applied to the computation of lengths, areas, or volumes from given dimensions or angles
mens·wear ['menz-,wer] -n
- clothing for men
men·tal ['men-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the mind
- of or relating to the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality
- of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity
- of, relating to, or being intellectual as contrasted with overt physical activity
- occurring or experienced in the mind : inner
- relating to the mind, its activity, or its products as an object of study : ideological
- relating to spirit or idea as opposed to matter
- of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder
- mentally disordered : mad, crazy
- intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders
- of or relating to telepathic or mind-reading powers
mental -adj
- of or relating to the chin : genial
mental age -n
- a measure used in psychological testing that expresses an individual's mental attainment in terms of the number of years it takes an average child to reach the same level
mental deficiency -n
- mental retardation
mental health day -n
- a day that an employee takes off from work in order to relieve stress or renew vitality
men·tal·ist ['men-tə-list] -n
- mind reader
men·tal·is·tic [,men-tə-'lis-tik] -adj, n
- of or relating to any school of psychology or psychiatry that in contrast to behaviorism values subjective data (as those gained by introspection) in the study and explanation of behavior
- of or relating to mental phenomena
men·tal·i·ty [men-'ta-lə-tē] -n
- mental power or capacity : intelligence
- mode or way of thought : outlook
- the imperialist mentality of the nineteenth century -- John Davies
mental retardation -n, adj
- subaverage intellectual ability equivalent to or less than an IQ of 70 that is accompanied by significant deficits in abilities (as in communication or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning, is present from birth or infancy, and is manifested esp. by delayed or abnormal development, by learning difficulties, and by problems in social adjustment
men·ta·tion [men-'tā-shən] -n
- mental activity
men·tee [men-'tē] -n
- one who is being mentored : protege
men·thol ['men-,thȯl, -,thōl] -n
- a crystalline alcohol C 10H 20O that occurs esp. in mint oils and has the odor and cooling properties of peppermint
- mentholated cigarettes
men·tho·lat·ed ['men(t)-thə-,lā-təd] -adj
- containing or impregnated with menthol
men·tion ['men(t)-shən] -n
- the act or an instance of citing or calling attention to someone or something esp. in a casual or incidental manner
- formal citation for outstanding achievement
mention ['men(t)-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt, adj, n
- to make mention of : refer to
- to cite for outstanding achievement
men·tor ['men-,tȯr, -tər] -n
- a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son Telemachus
- a trusted counselor or guide
- tutor, coach
mentor -vt
- to serve as a mentor for : tutor
men·tum ['men-təm] -n
- a median plate of the labium of an insect
menu ['men-(,)yü, 'mān-] -n
- a list of the dishes that may be ordered (as in a restaurant) or that are to be served (as at a banquet)
- a comparable list or assortment of offerings
- a menu of television programs
- a list shown on the display of a computer from which a user can select the operation the computer is to perform
- the dishes available for or served at a meal
- the meal itself
me·nu·do [mə-'nü-dō, me-'nü-thō] -n
- a tripe stew seasoned with chili peppers
menudriv·en [-,dri-vən] -adj
- relating to or being a computer program in which options are offered to the user via menus
me·ow [mē-'au̇] -n, vi
- the cry of a cat
- a spiteful or malicious remark
MEP -abbr
- member of the European Parliament
me·per·i·dine [mə-'per-ə-,dēn] -n
- a synthetic narcotic drug C 15H 21NO 2used in the form of its hydrochloride as an analgesic, sedative, and antispasmodic
Meph·is·toph·e·les [,me-fə-'stä-fə-,lēz] -n, adj
- a chief devil in the Faust legend
me·phit·ic [mə-'fi-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling mephitis : foul-smelling
me·phi·tis [mə-'fī-təs] -n
- a noxious, pestilential, or foul exhalation from the earth
- stench
mep·ro·bam·ate [,me-prō-'ba-,māt] -n
- a bitter carbamate C 9H 18N 2O 4used as a tranquilizer
mer -abbr
- meridian
mer·bro·min [,mər-'brō-mən] -n
- a green crystalline mercurial compound C 20H 8Br 2HgNa 2O 6used as a topical antiseptic and germicide in the form of its red solution
merc ['mərk, 'mərs] -n
- mercenary
Mer·cal·li scale [mer-'kä-lē-, (,)mər-] -n
- a scale of earthquake intensity ranging from I for an earthquake detected only by seismographs to XII for one causing total destruction of all buildings
mer·can·tile ['mər-kən-,tēl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj
- of or relating to merchants or trading
- of, relating to, or having the characteristics of mercantilism
mer·can·til·ism [-,tē-,li-zəm, -,tī-, -tə-] -n, n or adj, adj
- the theory or practice of mercantile pursuits : commercialism
- an economic system developing during the decay of feudalism to unify and increase the power and esp. the monetary wealth of a nation by a strict governmental regulation of the entire national economy usu. through policies designed to secure an accumulation of bullion, a favorable balance of trade, the development of agriculture and manufactures, and the establishment of foreign trading monopolies
mer·cap·tan [(,)mər-'kap-,tan] -n
- thiol
mer·cap·to·pu·rine [(,)mər-,kap-tə-'pyu̇r-,ēn] -n
- an antimetabolite C 5H 4N 4S that interferes esp. with the metabolism of purine bases and the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and that is sometimes used in the treatment of acute leukemia
Mer·ca·tor [(,)mər-'kā-tər] -adj
- of, relating to, or drawn on the Mercator projection
Mercator projection -n
- a conformal map projection of which the meridians are usu. drawn parallel to each other and the parallels of latitude are straight lines whose distance from each other increases with their distance from the equator
mer·ce·nary ['mər-sə-,ner-ē, -ne-rē] -n
- one that serves merely for wages
- a soldier hired into foreign service
mercenary [,mər-sə-'ner-ə-lē, -'ne-rə-] -adj, adv, n
- serving merely for pay or sordid advantage : venal
- greedy
- hired for service in the army of a foreign country
mer·cer ['mər-sər] -n
- a dealer in usu. expensive fabrics
mer·cer·ise ['mər-sə-,rīz] -vt, n
(variant of mercerize)
- to give (as cotton yarn) luster, strength, and receptiveness to dyes by treatment under tension with caustic soda
mer·cer·ize ['mər-sə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to give (as cotton yarn) luster, strength, and receptiveness to dyes by treatment under tension with caustic soda
mer·cery ['mərs-rē, 'mər-sə-] -n
- a mercer's wares, shop, or occupation
merch ['mərch] -n
- merchandise
mer·chan·dise ['mər-chən-,dīz, -,dīs] -n
- the occupation of a merchant : trade
- the commodities or goods that are bought and sold in business : wares
- to carry on commerce : trade
- to buy and sell in business
- to promote for or as if for sale
merchandising -n
- sales promotion as a comprehensive function including market research, development of new products, coordination of manufacture and marketing, and effective advertising and selling
mer·chant ['mər-chənt] -n, adj
- a buyer and seller of commodities for profit : trader
- the operator of a retail business : storekeeper
- one that is noted for a particular quality or activity : specialist
- a speed merchant on the base paths
merchant -vi
- to deal or trade as a merchant
- to deal or trade in
mer·chant·able ['mər-chən-tə-bəl] -adj, n
- of commercially acceptable quality : salable
merchant bank -n
- a bank that specializes in bankers' acceptances and in underwriting or syndicating equity or bond issues
mer·chant·man ['mər-chənt-mən] -n
- merchant
- a ship used in commerce
merchant marine -n
- the privately or publicly owned commercial ships of a nation
- the personnel of a merchant marine
- a member of a merchant marine
merchant ship -n
- merchantman
Mer·cian ['mər-sh(ē-)ən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Mercia
- the Old English dialect of Mercia
mer·ci·ful ['mər-si-fəl] -adj, n
- full of mercy : compassionate
- providing relief
mer·ci·ful·ly [-f(ə-)lē] -adv
- in a merciful manner
- fortunately
- mercifully we didn't have to attend the meeting
mer·ci·less ['mər-si-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- having or showing no mercy : pitiless
mer·cu·ri·al [(,)mər-'kyu̇r-ē-əl] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or born under the planet Mercury
- having qualities of eloquence, ingenuity, or thievishness attributed to the god Mercury or to the influence of the planet Mercury
- characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood
- of, relating to, containing, or caused by mercury
mercurial -n
- a pharmaceutical or chemical containing mercury
mer·cu·ric [(,)mər-'kyu̇r-ik] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing mercury
- containing mercury with a valence of two
mercuric chloride -n
- a heavy crystalline poisonous compound HgCl 2used as a disinfectant and fungicide and in photography
Mer·cu·ro·chrome [(,)mər-'kyu̇r-ə-,krōm] -trademark
- used for merbromin
mer·cu·rous [(,)mər-'kyu̇r-əs, 'mər-kyə-rəs] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing mercury
- containing mercury with a valence of one
mercurous chloride -n
- calomel
mer·cu·ry ['mər-kyə-rē, -k(ə-)rē] -n
- a Roman god of commerce, eloquence, travel, cunning, and theft who serves as messenger to the other gods
- a bearer of messages or news or a conductor of travelers
- a silver-white poisonous heavy metallic element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and is used esp. in batteries, in dental amalgam, and in scientific instruments called also quicksilver
- the column of mercury in a thermometer or barometer
- temperature
- the mercury rose above 70 degrees
- the planet nearest the sun
mercury chloride -n
- : a chloride of mercury: as
- calomel
- mercuric chloride
mercuryvapor lamp -n
- an electric lamp in which the discharge takes place through mercury vapor called also mercury lamp
mer·cy ['mər-sē] -n, adj
- compassion or forbearance shown esp. to an offender or to one subject to one's power
- lenient or compassionate treatment
- imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder
- a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion
- a fortunate circumstance
- it was a mercy they found her before she froze
- compassionate treatment of those in distress
- works of mercy among the poor
mercy killing -n
- euthanasia
merde ['merd] -n
- crap
mere ['mir] -n
- an expanse of standing water : lake, pool
- boundary
- landmark
- having no admixture : pure
- being nothing less than : absolute
- being nothing more than
me·ren·gue [mə-'reŋ-(,)gā] -n
- a ballroom dance of Haitian and Dominican origin in 2/4 time in which one foot is dragged on every step
- the music for a merengue
mer·e·tri·cious [,mer-ə-'tri-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- of or relating to a prostitute : having the nature of prostitution
- meretricious relationships
- tawdrily and falsely attractive
- the paradise they found was a piece of meretricious trash -- Carolyn See
- superficially significant : pretentious
- scholarly names to provide fig-leaves of respectability for meretricious but stylish books -- Times Lit. Supp.
mer·gan·ser [(,)mər-'gan(t)-sər] -n
- any of various fish-eating diving ducks (esp. genus Mergus) with a slender bill hooked at the end and serrated along the margins and usu. a crested head
merge ['mərj] -vb, n
- to plunge or engulf in something : immerse
- to cause to combine, unite, or coalesce
- to blend gradually by stages that blur distinctions
- to become combined into one
- to blend or come together without abrupt change
merg·er ['mər-jər] -n
- the absorption of an estate, a contract, or an interest in another, of a minor offense in a greater, or of a cause of action into a judgment
- the act or process of merging
- absorption by a corporation of one or more others
- any of various methods of combining two or more organizations (as business concerns)
me·rid·i·an [mə-'ri-dē-ən] -n, adj
- the hour of noon : midday
- a great circle of the celestial sphere passing through its poles and the zenith of a given place
- a high point
- a great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the poles
- the half of such a circle included between the poles
- a representation of such a circle or half circle numbered for longitude on a map or globe
- any of the pathways along which the body's vital energy flows according to the theory behind acupuncture
me·rid·i·o·nal [mə-'ri-dē-ə-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or situated in the south : southern
- of, relating to, or characteristic of people living in the south esp. of France
- of, relating to, or situated on or along a meridian
meridional -n
- a native or inhabitant of southern Europe and esp. southern France
me·ringue [mə-'raŋ] -n
- a dessert topping consisting of a baked mixture of stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar
- a shell made of meringue and filled with fruit or ice cream
me·ri·no [mə-'rē-(,)nō] -n, adj
- any of a breed of fine-wooled white sheep originating in Spain and producing a heavy fleece of exceptional quality
- a soft wool or wool and cotton clothing fabric resembling cashmere
- a fine wool and cotton yarn used for hosiery and knitwear
mer·i·stem ['mer-ə-,stem] -n, adj, adv
- a formative plant tissue usu. made up of small cells capable of dividing indefinitely and giving rise to similar cells or to cells that differentiate to produce the definitive tissues and organs
me·ris·tic [mə-'ris-tik] -adj, adv
- segmental
- involving modification in number or in geometrical relation of body parts
- meristic variation in petals
mer·it ['mer-ət, 'me-rət] -n, adj
- reward or punishment due
- the qualities or actions that constitute the basis of one's deserts
- a praiseworthy quality : virtue
- character or conduct deserving reward, honor, or esteem
- achievement
- spiritual credit held to be earned by performance of righteous acts and to ensure future benefits
- the substance of a legal case apart from matters of jurisdiction, procedure, or form
- individual significance or justification
merit -vt
- to be worthy of or entitled or liable to : earn
- to be entitled to reward or honor
- deserve
mer·i·toc·ra·cy [,mer-ə-'tä-krə-sē] -n, adj
- a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement
- leadership selected on the basis of intellectual criteria
mer·it·o·crat ['mer-ə-tə-,krat] -n
- a person who advances through a meritocratic system
mer·i·to·ri·ous [,mer-ə-'tȯr-ē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- deserving of honor or esteem
merit system -n
- a system by which appointments and promotions in the civil service are based on competence rather than political favoritism
merle ['mər(-ə)l] -n
- blackbird
- a bluish or reddish gray mixed with splotches of black that is the color of the coats of some dogs
mer·lin ['mər-lən] -n
- a small compact falcon ( Falco columbarius) of the northern hemisphere having a broad dark terminal band on the tail and upperparts that are slate blue in males and brown in females
Mer·lin ['mər-lən] -n
- a prophet and magician in Arthurian legend
mer·lon ['mər-lən] -n
- any of the solid intervals between crenellations of a battlement
mer·lot [mer-'lō, mər-] -n
- a dry red wine made from a widely grown grape orig. used in the Bordeaux region of France for blending
- the grape itself
mer·maid ['mər-,mād] -n
- a fabled marine creature with the head and upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish
mer·man [-,man, -mən] -n
- a fabled marine creature with the head and upper body of a man and the tail of a fish
mero- -comb form
- part : partial
mer·o·blas·tic [,mer-ə-'blas-tik] -adj, adv
- characterized by incomplete cleavage as a result of the presence of a mass of yolk material
mer·o·crine ['mer-ə-krən, -,krīn, -,krēn] -adj
- producing a secretion that is discharged without major damage to the secretory cells
- produced by a merocrine gland
mer·o·mor·phic [,mer-ə-'mȯr-fik] -adj
- relating to or being a function of a complex variable that is analytic everywhere in a region except for singularities at each of which infinity is the limit and each of which is contained in a neighborhood where the function is analytic except for the singular point itself
mer·o·my·o·sin [,mer-ə-'mī-ə-sən] -n
- either of two structural subunits of myosin that are obtained esp. by tryptic digestion
Mer·o·vin·gian [,mer-ə-'vin-j(ē-)ən] -adj, n
- of or relating to the first Frankish dynasty reigning from about a.d.500 to 751
mer·o·zo·ite [,mer-ə-'zō-,īt] -n
- a sporozoan trophozoite produced by schizogony that is capable of initiating a new sexual or asexual cycle of development
mer·ri·ment ['mer-i-mənt, 'me-ri-] -n
- lighthearted gaiety or fun-making : hilarity
- a lively celebration or party : festivity
mer·ry ['mer-ē, 'me-rē] -adj, adv, n
- giving pleasure : delightful
- full of gaiety or high spirits : mirthful
- marked by festivity or gaiety
- quick, brisk
mer·ryan·drew [,mer-ē-'an-(,)drü] -n
- a person who clowns publicly
mer·rygoround ['mer-ē-gō-,rau̇nd, -gə-] -n
- an amusement park ride with seats often in the form of animals (as horses) revolving about a fixed center
- a cycle of activity that is complex, fast-paced, or difficult to break out of
- the corporate merrygoround
mer·ry·mak·er ['mer-ē-,mā-kər] -n
- reveler
mer·ry·mak·ing [-kiŋ] -n
- gay or festive activity : conviviality
- a convivial occasion : festivity
mer·ry·thought ['mer-ē-,thȯt] -n
- wishbone
merry widow -n
- a strapless corset or bustier usu. having garters attached
Mer·thi·o·late [(,)mər-'thī-ə-,lāt, -lət] -trademark
- used for thimerosal
mes- -comb form
- mid : in the middle
- intermediate (as in size or type)
me·sa ['mā-sə] -n
- an isolated relatively flat-topped natural elevation usu. more extensive than a butte and less extensive than a plateau
- a broad terrace with an abrupt slope on one side : bench
mes·al·liance [,mā-,zal-'yäⁿs, ,mā-zə-'lī-ən(t)s] -n
- a marriage with a person of inferior social position
mes·arch ['me-,zärk, 'mē-, -,särk] -adj
- having metaxylem developed both internal and external to the protoxylem
mes·cal [me-'skal, mə-] -n
- peyote
- a usu. colorless Mexican liquor distilled esp. from the central leaves of maguey plants
- a plant from which mescal is produced
- maguey
mescal button -n
- peyote button
Mes·ca·le·ro [,mes-kə-'ler-(,)ō] -n
- a member of an Apache people of Texas and New Mexico
mes·ca·line ['mes-kə-lən, -,lēn] -n
- a hallucinatory crystalline alkaloid C 11H 17NO 3that is the chief active principle in peyote buttons
mes·clun ['mes-klən] -n
- a mixture of young tender greens (as lettuces, arugula, and chicory)
- a salad made with mesclun
mesdames ['ma-dəm] -n
(variant of madam)
- lady used without a name as a form of respectful or polite address to a woman
- mistress used as a title formerly with the given name but now with the surname or esp. with a designation of rank or office
- the female head of a house of prostitution
- the female head of a household : wife
mesdemoiselles [,mad-mwə-'zel, ,ma-də-, -mə-'zel, sometimes mam-'zel] -n
(variant of mademoiselle)
- an unmarried French girl or woman used as a title equivalent to Miss for an unmarried woman not of English-speaking nationality
- a French governess
- silver perch
me·seems [mi-'sēmz] -vb impersonal
- it seems to me
me·sem·bry·an·the·mum [mə-,zem-brē-'an(t)-thə-məm] -n
- any of a genus ( Mesembryanthemum) of chiefly southern African fleshy-leaved herbs or subshrubs of the carpetweed family
mes·en·ceph·a·lon [,me-,zen-'se-fə-,län, ,mē-, -zᵊn-, -,sen-, -sᵊn-, -lən] -n, adj
- midbrain
mes·en·chy·mal [mə-'zeŋ-kə-məl, -'seŋ-; ,me-zᵊn-'kī-məl, ,mē-, -sᵊn-] -adj
- of, resembling, or being mesenchyme
mes·en·chyme ['me-zᵊn-,kīm, 'mē-, -sᵊn-] -n
- loosely organized undifferentiated mostly mesodermal cells that give rise to such structures as connective tissues, blood, lymphatics, bone, and cartilage
mes·en·ter·on [(,)me-'zen-tə-,rän, ,mē-, -'sen-, -rən] -n
- the part of the alimentary canal that is developed from the archenteron and is lined with hypoblast
mes·en·tery ['me-zᵊn-,ter-ē, -sᵊn-] -n, adj
- one or more vertebrate membranes that consist of a double fold of the peritoneum and invest the intestines and their appendages and connect them with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity
- a fold of membrane comparable to a mesentery and supporting a viscus (as the heart) that is not a part of the digestive tract
- a support or partition in an invertebrate like the vertebrate mesentery
mesh ['mesh] -n, adj
- one of the openings between the threads or cords of a net
- one of the similar spaces in a network often used to designate screen size as the number of openings per linear inch
- the fabric of a net
- a woven, knit, or knotted material of open texture with evenly spaced holes
- an arrangement of interlocking metal links used esp. for jewelry
- a weblike pattern or construction
- web, snare usu. used in pl.
- working contact (as of the teeth of gears)
- enmesh, entangle
- to catch in the openings of a net
- to cause to resemble network
- to cause (as gears) to engage
- to coordinate closely : interlock
- to become entangled in or as if in meshes
- to be in or come into mesh used esp. of gears
- to fit or work together properly
me·shuga [mə-'shu̇-gə] -adj
- crazy, foolish
me·shug·gen·er [-'shu̇-gə-nər] -n
- a foolish or crazy person
mesh·work ['mesh-,wərk] -n
- network
me·si·al ['mē-zē-əl, -sē-] -adj, adv
- middle, median
- of, relating to, or being the surface of a tooth that is next to the tooth in front of it or that is closest to the middle of the front of the jaw
me·sic ['me-zik, 'mē-, -sik] -adj
- characterized by, relating to, or requiring a moderate amount of moisture
mesic -adj
- of or relating to a meson
mes·mer·ic [mez-'mer-ik also mes-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or induced by mesmerism
- fascinating, irresistible
mes·mer·ise [-mə-,rīz] -vt, n
(variant of mesmerize)
- to subject to mesmerism
- hypnotize
- spellbind
mes·mer·ism ['mez-mə-,ri-zəm also 'mes-] -n
- hypnotic induction held to involve animal magnetism
- hypnotism
- hypnotic appeal
mes·mer·ize [-mə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to subject to mesmerism
- hypnotize
- spellbind
mesne ['mēn] -adj
- intermediate, intervening used in law
mesne lord -n
- a feudal lord who holds land as tenant of a superior (as a king) but who is lord to his own tenant
me·so·carp ['me-zə-,kärp, 'mē-, -sə-] -n
- the middle layer of a pericarp
me·so·cy·clone [,me-zə-'sī-,klōn, ,mē-, -sə-'sī-] -n
- a rapidly rotating air mass within a thunderstorm that often gives rise to a tornado
me·so·derm ['me-zə-,dərm, 'mē-, -sə-] -n, adj
- the middle of the three primary germ layers of an embryo that is the source of many bodily tissues and structures (as bone, muscle, connective tissue, and dermis)
- tissue derived from this germ layer
me·so·glea [,me-zə-'glē-ə, ,mē-, -sə-] -n
- a gelatinous substance between the endoderm and ectoderm of sponges or coelenterates
Me·so·lith·ic [,me-zə-'li-thik] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a transitional period of the Stone Age between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic
me·so·mere ['me-zə-,mir, 'mē-, -sə-] -n
- a blastomere of medium size
- an intermediate part of the mesoderm
me·so·morph ['me-zə-,mȯrf, 'mē-, -sə-] -n
- a mesomorphic body or person
me·so·mor·phic [,me-zə-'mȯr-fik, ,mē-, -sə-] -adj, n
- of or relating to the component in W. H. Sheldon's classification of body types that measures esp. the degree of muscularity and bone development
- having a husky muscular body build
me·son ['me-,zän, 'mā-, 'mē-, -,sän] -n, adj
- any of a group of fundamental particles (as the pion and kaon) made up of a quark and an antiquark that are subject to the strong force and have zero or an integer number of quantum units of spin
me·so·neph·ros [,me-zə-'ne-frəs, ,mē-, -sə-, -,fräs] -n, adj
- either member of the second and midmost of the three paired vertebrate renal organs that functions in adult fishes and amphibians but functions only in the embryo of reptiles, birds, and mammals in which it is replaced by a metanephros in the adult
me·so·pause ['me-zə-,pȯz, 'mē-, -sə-] -n
- the upper boundary of the mesosphere where the temperature of the atmosphere reaches its lowest point
me·so·pe·lag·ic [,me-zə-pə-'la-jik, ,mē-, -sə-] -adj
- of or relating to oceanic depths from about 600 feet to 3000 feet (200 to 1000 meters)
me·so·phyll ['me-zə-,fil, 'mē-, -sə-] -n, adj
- the parenchyma between the epidermal layers of a foliage leaf
me·so·phyte ['me-zə-,fīt, 'mē-, -sə-] -n, adj
- a plant that grows under medium conditions of moisture
me·so·scale ['me-zə-,skāl, 'mē-, -sə-] -adj
- of intermediate size
- of or relating to a meteorological phenomenon approximately 10 to 1000 kilometers in horizontal extent
me·so·some [-,sōm] -n
- an organelle of bacteria that appears as an invagination of the plasma membrane and functions either in DNA replication and cell division or excretion of exoenzymes
me·so·sphere [-,sfir] -n, adj
- the part of the earth's atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere in which temperature decreases with altitude to the atmosphere's absolute minimum
me·so·the·li·o·ma [,me-zə-,thē-lē-'ō-mə, ,mē-, -sə-] -n
- a usu. malignant tumor derived from mesothelial tissue (as that lining the peritoneum or pleura)
me·so·the·li·um [-'thē-lē-əm] -n, adj
- epithelium derived from mesoderm that lines the body cavity of a vertebrate embryo and gives rise to epithelia (as of the peritoneum, pericardium, and pleura), striated muscle, heart muscle, and several minor structures
me·so·tho·rac·ic [-thə-'ra-sik] -adj
- of or relating to the mesothorax
me·so·tho·rax [-'thȯr-,aks] -n
- the middle of the three segments of the thorax of an insect
me·so·tro·phic [,me-zə-'trō-fik, ,mē-, -sə-, -'trä-fik] -adj
- having a moderate amount of dissolved nutrients
Me·so·zo·ic [-'zō-ik] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being an era of geological history comprising the interval between the Permian and the Tertiary or the corresponding system of rocks that was marked by the presence of dinosaurs, marine and flying reptiles, ammonites, ferns, and gymnosperms and the appearance of angiosperms, mammals, and birds
mes·quite [mə-'skēt, me-] -n
- any of several spiny leguminous trees or shrubs (genus Prosopisand esp. P. glandulosa) chiefly of the southwestern U.S. that often form extensive thickets and have sweet pods eaten by livestock
- the wood of the mesquite used esp. in grilling food
mess ['mes] -n
- : a quantity of food:
- food set on a table at one time
- a prepared dish of soft food
- a mixture of ingredients cooked or eaten together
- enough food of a specified kind for a dish or a meal
- picked a mess of peas for dinner
- a group of persons who regularly take their meals together
- a meal so taken
- a place where meals are regularly served to a group : mess hall
- a disordered, untidy, offensive, or unpleasant state or condition
- one that is disordered, untidy, offensive, or unpleasant usu. because of blundering, laxity, or misconduct
- the movie is a mess, as sloppy in concept as it is in execution -- Judith Crist
- a large quantity or number
- to provide with meals at a mess
- to make dirty or untidy : disarrange often used with up
- to mix up : bungle often used with up
- really mess ed up my life
- to interfere with often used with up
- magnetic storms that mess up communications -- Time
- to rough up : manhandle often used with up
- mess him up good so he won't cheat us again
- to take meals with a mess
- to make a mess
- putter, trifle
- children like to mess around with paints
- to handle or play with something esp. carelessly
- don't mess with my camera
often used with around - to take an active interest in something or someone
- mess ing around with new video techniques
- interfere, meddle
- mess ing in other people's affairs
- you'd better not mess with me
- to become confused or make an error usu. used with up
mes·sage ['me-sij] -n
- a communication in writing, in speech, or by signals
- a messenger's mission
- an underlying theme or idea
message -vb
- to send as a message or by messenger
- to send a message to
- to communicate by message
message board -n
- bulletin board
mes·sa·line [,me-sə-'lēn] -n
- a soft lightweight silk dress fabric with a satin weave
mes·san ['me-sᵊn] -n
- lapdog
mess around -vi
- to waste time : dawdle, idle
- associate
- didn't mess around with gangs
- flirt, philander
messeigneurs [,mōⁿ-,sān-'yər] -n
(variant of monseigneur)
- a French dignitary (as a prince or prelate) used as a title preceding a title of office or rank
mes·sen·ger ['me-sᵊn-jər] -n
- : one who bears a message or does an errand: as
- forerunner, herald
- a dispatch bearer in government or military service
- an employee who carries messages
- a light line used in hauling a heavier line (as between ships)
- a substance (as a hormone) that mediates a biological effect
- messenger rna
messenger RNA -n
- an RNA produced by transcription that carries the code for a particular protein from the nuclear DNA to a ribosome in the cytoplasm and acts as a template for the formation of that protein
mess hall -n
- a hall or building (as on an army post) in which mess is served
mes·si·ah [mə-'sī-ə] -n
- the expected king and deliverer of the Jews
- jesus
- a professed or accepted leader of some hope or cause
mes·si·an·ic [,me-sē-'a-nik] -adj
- of or relating to a messiah
- marked by idealism and an aggressive crusading spirit
mes·si·a·nism ['me-sē-ə-,ni-zəm; mə-'sī-ə-, me-] -n
- belief in a messiah as the savior of humankind
- religious devotion to an ideal or cause
Mes·si·as [mə-'sī-əs] -n
- messiah
messieurs [məs-'yə(r), məsh-; mə-'sir] -n
(variant of monsieur)
- a Frenchman of high rank or station used as a title equivalent to Mister and prefixed to the name of a Frenchman
mess jacket -n
- a fitted waist-length man's jacket worn esp. as part of a dress uniform
mess kit -n
- a compact kit of nested cooking and eating utensils for use by soldiers and campers
mess·mate ['mes-,māt] -n
- a person with whom one regularly takes mess (as on a ship)
mess over -vt
- to treat harshly or unfairly : abuse
Messrs. ['me-sərz]
- Messrs. Jones, Brown, and Robinson
mes·suage ['mes-wij] -n
- premise
messy ['me-sē] -adj, adv, n
- marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
- lacking neatness or precision : careless, slovenly
- extremely unpleasant or trying
mes·ti·za [me-'stē-zə] -n
- a woman who is a mestizo
mes·ti·zo [-(,)zō] -n
- a person of mixed blood
- a person of mixed European and American Indian ancestry
mes·tra·nol ['mes-trə-,nȯl, -,nōl] -n
- a synthetic estrogen C 21H 26O 2used in oral contraceptives
met ['mēt] -vb, n
(variant of meet)
- to come into the presence of : find
- to come together with esp. at a particular time or place
- I'll meet you at the station
- to come into contact or conjunction with : join
- to appear to the perception of
- to encounter as antagonist or foe : oppose
- to enter into conference, argument, or personal dealings with
- to conform to esp. with exactitude and precision
- a concept to meet all requirements
- to pay fully : settle
- to cope with
- was able to meet every social situation
- to provide for
- enough money to meet our needs
- to become acquainted with
- encounter, experience
- to receive or greet in an official capacity
- to come face-to-face
- to come together for a common purpose : assemble
- to come together as contestants, opponents, or enemies
- to form a junction or confluence
- the lines meet in a point
- to occur together
- the act of assembling for a hunt or for competitive sports
- a competition in which individuals match skills
- precisely adapted to a particular situation, need, or circumstance : very proper
meta- -prefix
- occurring later than or in succession to : after
- situated behind or beyond
- later or more highly organized or specialized form of
- change : transformation
- more comprehensive : transcending usu. used with the name of a discipline to designate a new but related discipline designed to deal critically with the original one
- involving substitution at or characterized by two positions in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom
- derived from by loss of water
metaanal·y·sis [,me-tə-ə-'na-lə-səs] -n
- a quantitative statistical analysis of several separate but similar experiments or studies in order to test the pooled data for statistical significance
met·a·bol·ic [,me-tə-'bä-lik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or based on metabolism
metabolic syndrome -n
- a syndrome marked by the presence of usu. three or more of a group of factors (as high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, high triglyceride levels, low HDL levels, and high fasting levels of blood sugar) that are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes called also insulin resistance syndrome
me·tab·o·lism [mə-'ta-bə-,li-zəm] -n
- the sum of the processes in the buildup and destruction of protoplasm
- the chemical changes in living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated
- the sum of the processes by which a particular substance is handled in the living body
- the sum of the metabolic activities taking place in a particular environment
- metamorphosis usu. used in combination
me·tab·o·lite [-,līt] -n
- a product of metabolism
- a substance essential to the metabolism of a particular organism or to a particular metabolic process
me·tab·o·lize [-,līz] -vb, adj
- to subject to metabolism
- to perform metabolism
meta·car·pal [,me-tə-'kär-pəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being the metacarpus or a metacarpal
metacarpal -n
- a bone of the part of the hand or forefoot between the carpus and the phalanges that typically contains five more or less elongated bones when all the digits are present
meta·car·pus [,me-tə-'kär-pəs] -n
- the part of the hand or forefoot that contains the metacarpals
meta·cen·ter ['me-tə-,sen-tər] -n
- the point of intersection of the vertical through the center of buoyancy of a floating body with the vertical through the new center of buoyancy when the body is displaced
meta·cen·tric [,me-tə-'sen-trik] -adj, n
- of or relating to a metacenter
- having the centromere medially situated so that the two chromosomal arms are of roughly equal length
meta·cer·car·ia [,me-tə-(,)sər-'ker-ē-ə] -n, adj
- a tailless encysted late larva of a digenetic trematode that is usu. the form which is infective for the definitive host
meta·chro·mat·ic [-krō-'ma-tik] -adj
- staining or characterized by staining in a different color or shade from what is typical
- metachromatic granules in a bacterium
- having the capacity to stain different elements of a cell or tissue in different colors or shades
meta·cog·ni·tion [-käg-'ni-shən] -n
- awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking processes
meta·da·ta [-'dā-tə, -'da- also -'dä-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- data that provides information about other data
meta·eth·ics [-'e-thiks] -n pl but usu sing in constr, adj
- the study of the meanings of ethical terms, the nature of ethical judgments, and the types of ethical arguments
meta·fic·tion [-'fik-shən] -n, adj
- fiction which refers to or takes as its subject fictional writing and its conventions
meta·gal·axy [-'ga-lək-sē] -n, adj
- the entire system of galaxies : universe
meta·gen·e·sis [-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj
- alternation of generations in animals
- regular alternation of a sexual and an asexual generation
met·al ['me-tᵊl] -n
- any of various opaque, fusible, ductile, and typically lustrous substances that are good conductors of electricity and heat, form cations by loss of electrons, and yield basic oxides and hydroxides
- one that is a chemical element as distinguished from an alloy
- mettle
- the substance out of which a person or thing is made
- glass in its molten state
- printing type metal
- matter set in metal type
- road metal
- heavy metal
metal -vt
- to cover or furnish with metal
meta·lan·guage ['me-tə-,laŋ-gwij] -n
- a language used to talk about language
met·al·de·hyde [,met-'al-də-,hīd] -n
- a crystalline compound (CH 3CH0) 4that is a polymer of acetaldehyde and is used as a lure and poison for snails and slugs
met·al·head ['me-tᵊl-,hed] -n
- a fan or performer of heavy metal
meta·lin·guis·tic ['me-tə-liŋ-,gwis-tik] -adj
- of or relating to a metalanguage or to metalinguistics
meta·lin·guis·tics [-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr
- a branch of linguistics that deals with the relation between language and other cultural factors in a society
metall- -comb form
- metal
me·tal·lic [mə-'ta-lik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a metal
- made of or containing a metal
- having properties of a metal
- yielding metal
- : resembling metal: as
- having iridescent and reflective properties
- having an acrid quality like that of metal
- the tea has a metallic taste
- having a harsh resonance : grating
- having an impersonal or mechanical quality
met·al·lif·er·ous [,me-tᵊl-'i-f(ə-)rəs] -adj
- yielding or containing metal
met·al·lize ['me-tᵊl-,īz] -vt, n
- to coat, treat, or combine with a metal
met·al·log·ra·phy [,me-tᵊl-'ä-grə-fē] -n, adj, adv
- a study of the structure of metals esp. with the microscope
met·al·loid ['me-tᵊl-,ȯid] -n
- an element intermediate in properties between the typical metals and nonmetals
- a nonmetal that can combine with a metal to form an alloy
metalloid [,me-tᵊl-'ȯi-dᵊl] -adj
- resembling a metal
- of, relating to, or being a metalloid
me·tal·lo·phone [mə-'ta-lə-,fōn] -n
- a percussion musical instrument consisting of a series of metal bars of varying pitch struck with hammers
met·al·lur·gy ['me-tᵊl-,ər-jē, esp Brit mə-'ta-lər-] -n, adj, adv
- the science and technology of metals
met·al·mark ['me-tᵊl-,märk] -n
- any of a family (Riodinidae) of small or medium-sized usu. brightly colored chiefly tropical butterflies that often have metallic coloration on the wings
met·al·smith [-,smith] -n
- a person skilled in metalworking
met·al·ware [-,wer] -n
- ware made of metal
- metal utensils
met·al·work [-,wərk] -n
- the product of metalworking
- a metal object of artistic merit
met·al·work·ing [-,wər-kiŋ] -n
- the act or process of shaping things out of metal
meta·math·e·mat·ics ['me-tə-,math-'ma-tiks, -ma-thə-] -n pl but usu sing in constr, adj
- a field of study concerned with the formal structure and properties (as the consistency and completeness of axioms) of mathematical systems
meta·mere ['me-tə-,mir] -n, adj, adv
- any of a linear series of primitively similar segments into which the body of a higher invertebrate or vertebrate is divisible
me·tam·er·ism [mə-'ta-mə-,ri-zəm] -n
- the condition of having or the stage of evolutionary development characterized by a body made up of metameres
meta·mor·phic [,me-tə-'mȯr-fik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to metamorphosis
- of, relating to, or produced by metamorphism
meta·mor·phism [-'mȯr-,fi-zəm] -n
- a change in the constitution of rock
- a pronounced change effected by pressure, heat, and water that results in a more compact and more highly crystalline condition
meta·mor·phose [-,fōz, -,fōs] -vb
- to change into a different physical form esp. by supernatural means
- to change strikingly the appearance or character of : transform
- to cause (rock) to undergo metamorphism
- to undergo metamorphosis
- to become transformed
meta·mor·pho·sis [,me-tə-'mȯr-fə-səs] -n
- change of physical form, structure, or substance esp. by supernatural means
- a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances
- a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching
met·anal·y·sis [,me-tə-'na-lə-səs] -n
- a reanalysis of the division between sounds or words resulting in different constituents (as in the development of an apronfrom a napron)
meta·neph·ros [-'ne-frəs, -,fräs] -n, adj
- either member of the final and most caudal pair of the three successive pairs of vertebrate renal organs that functions as a permanent adult kidney in reptiles, birds, and mammals but is not present at all in lower forms
meta·noia [,me-tə-'nȯi-ə] -n
- a transformative change of heart
- a spiritual conversion
meta·phase ['me-tə-,fāz] -n
- the stage of mitosis and meiosis in which the chromosomes become arranged in the equatorial plane of the spindle
metaphase plate -n
- a section in the equatorial plane of the metaphase spindle having the chromosomes oriented upon it
met·a·phor ['me-tə-,fȯr also -fər] -n, adj, adv
- a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money)
- figurative language
- an object, activity, or idea treated as a metaphor : symbol
meta·phos·phate [,me-tə-'fäs-,fāt] -n
- a salt or ester of a metaphosphoric acid
meta·phos·pho·ric acid [-,fäs-'fȯr-ik-, -'fär-; -'fäs-f(ə-)rik-] -n
- a glassy solid acid HPO 3or (HPO 3) n formed by heating orthophosphoric acid
meta·phrase ['me-tə-,frāz] -n
- a literal translation
meta·phys·ic [,me-tə-'fi-zik] -n, adj
- metaphysics
- a particular system of metaphysics
- the system of principles underlying a particular study or subject : philosophy
meta·phys·i·cal [-'fi-zi-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to metaphysics
- of or relating to the transcendent or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses
- supernatural
- highly abstract or abstruse
- theoretical
- of or relating to poetry esp. of the early 17th century that is highly intellectual and philosophical and marked by unconventional imagery
Metaphysical -n
- a metaphysical poet of the 17th century
meta·phy·si·cian [,me-tə-fə-'zi-shən] -n
- a student of or specialist in metaphysics
meta·phys·ics [-'fi-ziks] -n pl but sing in constr
- a division of philosophy that is concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and being and that includes ontology, cosmology, and often epistemology
- ontology
- abstract philosophical studies : a study of what is outside objective experience
- metaphysic
meta·pla·sia [-'plā-zh(ē-)ə] -n, adj
- transformation of one tissue into another
- abnormal replacement of cells of one type by cells of another
meta·psy·chol·o·gy [-sī-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- speculative psychology concerned with postulating the structure (as the ego and id) and processes (as cathexis) of the mind which usu. cannot be demonstrated objectively
meta·se·quoia [-si-'kwȯi-ə] -n
- any of a genus ( Metasequoia) of deciduous coniferous trees of the bald cypress family comprising one extant and various fossil forms having leaves, buds, and branches arranged oppositely and flat leaves resembling needles
meta·so·ma·tism [-'sō-mə-,ti-zəm] -n, adj
- metamorphism that involves changes in the chemical composition as well as in the texture of rock
meta·sta·ble [-'stā-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- having or characterized by only a slight margin of stability
me·tas·ta·sis [mə-'tas-tə-səs] -n, adj, adv
- : change of position, state, or form
- the spread of a disease-producing agency (as cancer cells) from the initial or primary site of disease to another part of the body
- the process by which such spreading occurs
- a secondary malignant tumor resulting from metastasis
me·tas·ta·size [mə-'tas-tə-,sīz] -vi
- to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis
meta·tar·sal [,me-tə-'tär-səl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being the part of the human foot or of the hind foot in quadrupeds between the tarsus and the phalanges that in humans comprises five elongated bones which form the front of the instep and ball of the foot
metatarsal -n
- a metatarsal bone
meta·tar·sus [,me-tə-'tär-səs] -n
- the metatarsal part of a human foot or of a hind foot in quadrupeds
me·ta·te [mə-'tä-tē] -n
- a stone with a concave upper surface used as the lower millstone for grinding grains and esp. Indian corn
me·tath·e·sis [mə-'ta-thə-səs] -n, adj, adv
- : a change of place or condition: as
- transposition of two phonemes in a word (as in the development of crudfrom curdor the pronunciation pr-te for pretty)
- a chemical reaction in which different kinds of molecules exchange parts to form other kinds of molecules
meta·tho·rax [,me-tə-'thȯr-,aks] -n, adj
- the posterior segment of the thorax of an insect
meta·xy·lem [-'zī-ləm, -,lem] -n
- the part of the primary xylem that differentiates after the protoxylem and that is distinguished typically by broader tracheids and vessels with pitted or reticulate walls
meta·zo·al [-'zō-əl] -adj
- of or relating to the metazoans
meta·zo·an [-'zō-ən] -n, adj
- any of a group ( Metazoa) that comprises all animals having the body composed of cells differentiated into tissues and organs and usu. a digestive cavity lined with specialized cells
mete ['mēt] -vt
- measure
- to give out by measure : dole usu. used with out
- boundary
me·tem·psy·cho·sis [mə-,tem(p)-si-'kō-səs, ,me-təm-,sī-] -n
- the passing of the soul at death into another body either human or animal
met·en·ceph·a·lon [,met-,en-'se-fə-,län, -lən] -n, adj
- the anterior segment of the developing vertebrate hindbrain or the corresponding part of the adult brain composed of the cerebellum and pons
me·te·or ['mē-tē-ər, -,ȯr] -n
- an atmospheric phenomenon (as lightning or a snowfall)
- any of the small particles of matter in the solar system that are directly observable only by their incandescence from frictional heating on entry into the atmosphere
- the streak of light produced by the passage of a meteor
me·te·or·ic [,mē-tē-'ȯr-ik, -'är-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a meteor
- resembling a meteor in speed or in sudden and temporary brilliance
- of, relating to, or derived from the earth's atmosphere
me·te·or·ite ['mē-tē-ə-,rīt] -n, adj
- a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth without being completely vaporized
me·te·or·it·ics [,mē-tē-ə-'ri-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr, n
- a science that deals with meteors
me·te·or·oid ['mē-tē-ə-,rȯid] -n, adj
- a meteor particle itself without relation to the phenomena it produces when entering the earth's atmosphere
- a meteor in orbit around the sun
me·te·o·rol·o·gy [,mē-tē-ə-'rä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv
- a science that deals with the atmosphere and its phenomena and esp. with weather and weather forecasting
- the atmospheric phenomena and weather of a region
me·ter ['mē-tər] -n
- : systematically arranged and measured rhythm in verse:
- rhythm that continuously repeats a single basic pattern
- rhythm characterized by regular recurrence of a systematic arrangement of basic patterns in larger figures
- a measure or unit of metrical verse usu. used in combination
- a fixed metrical pattern : verse form
- the basic recurrent rhythmical pattern of note values, accents, and beats per measure in music
met·er ['mē-tər] -n
- one that measures
- an official measurer of commodities
me·ter -n
- the base unit of length in the International System of Units that is equal to the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in second or to about 39.37 inches
- an instrument for measuring and sometimes recording the time or amount of something
- postage meter
- a marking printed by a postage meter
- to measure by means of a meter
- to supply in a measured or regulated amount
- to print postal indicia on by means of a postage meter
meterkilogramsecond -adj
- of, relating to, or being a system of units using the meter, kilogram, and second as its base units abbr. mks
meter maid -n
- a woman assigned by a police or traffic department to write tickets for parking violations
me·ter·stick ['mē-tər-,stik] -n
- a measuring stick one meter long that is marked off in centimeters and usu. millimeters
met·es·trus [,met-'es-trəs] -n
- the period of regression that follows estrus
met·for·min [met-'fȯr-mən] -n
- a drug C 4C 11N 5used in the form of its hydrochloride to treat type 2 diabetes
meth ['meth] -n
- methamphetamine
meth- -comb form
- methyl
meth·ac·ry·late [,me-'tha-krə-,lāt] -n
- a salt or ester of methacrylic acid
- an acrylic resin or plastic made from a derivative of methacrylic acid
meth·acryl·ic acid [,me-thə-'kri-lik-] -n
- an acid C 4H 6O 2used esp. in making acrylic resins or plastics
meth·a·done ['me-thə-,dōn] -n
- a synthetic addictive narcotic drug C 21H 27NO used esp. in the form of its hydrochloride for the relief of pain and as a substitute narcotic in the treatment of heroin addiction
meth·am·phet·amine [,me-tham-'fe-tə-,mēn, -thəm-, -mən] -n
- an amine C 10H 15N used medically in the form of its crystalline hydrochloride esp. in the treatment of obesity and often used illicitly as a stimulant called also methedrine
metha·na·tion [,me-thə-'nā-shən] -n
- the production of methane esp. from carbon monoxide and hydrogen
meth·ane ['me-,thān, Brit usu 'mē-] -n
- a colorless odorless flammable gaseous hydrocarbon CH 4that is a product of decomposition of organic matter and of the carbonization of coal, is used as a fuel and as a starting material in chemical synthesis, and is the simplest of the alkanes
meth·a·nol ['me-thə-,nȯl, -,nōl] -n
- a light volatile flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH 3OH used esp. as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethyl alcohol and in the synthesis of other chemicals
meth·aqua·lone [me-'tha-kwə-,lōn] -n
- a sedative and hypnotic nonbarbiturate drug C 16H 14N 2O that is habit-forming
meth·e·drine ['me-thə-,drēn, -drən] -n
- methamphetamine
me·theg·lin [mə-'the-glən] -n
- mead
met·he·mo·glo·bin [,met-'hē-mə-,glō-bən] -n
- a soluble brown crystalline basic blood pigment that differs from hemoglobin in containing ferric iron and in being unable to combine reversibly with molecular oxygen
met·he·mo·glo·bi·ne·mia [,met-,hē-mə-,glō-bə-'nē-mē-ə] -n
- the presence of methemoglobin in the blood
me·the·na·mine [mə-'thē-nə-,mēn, -mən] -n
- hexamethylenetetramine esp. when used in the form of an organic salt to treat urinary tract infections
meth·i·cil·lin [,me-thə-'si-lən] -n
- a semisynthetic penicillin C 17H 19N 2O 6NaS used esp. in the form of its sodium salt against beta-lactamase-producing staphylococci
me·thinks [mi-'thiŋ(k)s] -vb impersonal
- it seems to me
me·thi·o·nine [mə-'thī-ə-,nēn] -n
- a crystalline sulfur-containing essential amino acid C 5H 11NO 2S that occurs in the levorotatory form as a constituent of many proteins
meth·od ['me-thəd] -n
- : a procedure or process for attaining an object: as
- a systematic procedure, technique, or mode of inquiry employed by or proper to a particular discipline or art
- a systematic plan followed in presenting material for instruction
- a way, technique, or process of or for doing something
- a body of skills or techniques
- a discipline that deals with the principles and techniques of scientific inquiry
- orderly arrangement, development, or classification : plan
- the habitual practice of orderliness and regularity
- a dramatic technique by which an actor seeks to gain complete identification with the inner personality of the character being portrayed
me·thod·i·cal [mə-'thä-di-kəl] -adj, adv, n
- arranged, characterized by, or performed with method or order
- a methodical treatment of the subject
- habitually proceeding according to method : systematic
- methodical in his daily routine
meth·od·ise ['me-thə-,dīz] -vt
(variant of methodize)
- to reduce to method : systematize
meth·od·ism ['me-thə-,di-zəm] -n
- the doctrines and practice of Methodists
- the Methodist churches
- methodical procedure
meth·od·ist [-dist] -n, adj
- a person devoted to or laying great stress on method
- a member of one of the denominations deriving from the Wesleyan revival in the Church of England, having Arminian doctrine and in the U.S. modified episcopal polity, and stressing personal and social morality
meth·od·ize ['me-thə-,dīz] -vt
- to reduce to method : systematize
method of fluxions
- differential calculus
meth·od·o·log·i·cal [,me-thə-də-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to method or methodology
meth·od·ol·o·gist [-thə-'dä-lə-jist] -n
- a student of methodology
meth·od·ol·o·gy [,me-thə-'dä-lə-jē] -n
- a body of methods, rules, and postulates employed by a discipline : a particular procedure or set of procedures
- the analysis of the principles or procedures of inquiry in a particular field
meth·o·trex·ate [,me-thə-'trek-,sāt] -n
- a toxic folic acid analog C 20H 22N 8O 5that is used to treat certain cancers, severe psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis
me·thoxy·chlor [me-'thäk-si-,klȯr] -n
- relatively nontoxic organochlorine insecticide C 16H 15Cl 3O 2
me·thoxy·flu·rane [me-,thäk-sē-'flu̇r-,ān] -n
- a potent nonexplosive inhalational general anesthetic C 3H 4Cl 2F 2O administered as a vapor
Me·thu·se·lah [mə-'thü-zə-lə, -'thyü-; -'th(y)üz-lə] -n
- an ancestor of Noah held to have lived 969 years
- an oversize wine bottle holding about six liters
meth·yl ['me-thəl] -n, adj
- an alkyl radical CH 3derived from methane
methyl acetate -n
- a flammable fragrant liquid C 3H 6O 2used as a solvent and paint remover and in organic synthesis
methyl alcohol -n
- methanol
me·thyl·amine [,me-thə-lə-'mēn, -'la-mən; mə-'thi-lə-,mēn] -n
- a flammable explosive gas CH 3NH 2with a strong ammoniacal odor used esp. in organic synthesis (as of dyes and insecticides)
meth·yl·ase ['me-thə-,lās, -,lāz] -n
- an enzyme that catalyzes methylation (as of RNA or DNA)
meth·yl·ate ['me-thə-,lāt] -vt, n
- to introduce the methyl radical into
methyl bromide -n
- a poisonous gaseous compound CH 3Br used chiefly as a fumigant against rodents, worms, and insects
meth·yl·cel·lu·lose [,me-thəl-'sel-yə-,lōs, -,lōz] -n
- any of various gummy products of cellulose methylation that swell in water and are used esp. as emulsifiers, adhesives, thickeners, and bulk laxatives
methyl chloroform -n
- a methylated derivative CH 3CCl 3of chloroform used esp. as an industrial solvent
meth·yl·cho·lan·threne [-kə-'lan-,thrēn] -n
- a potent carcinogenic hydrocarbon C 21H 16
meth·yl·do·pa [,me-thəl-'dō-pə] -n
- a drug C 10H 13NO 4used to lower blood pressure
meth·y·lene ['me-thə-,lēn, -lən] -n
- a divalent hydrocarbon group CH 2derived from methane
methylene blue -n
- a basic thiazine dye C 16H 18ClN 3S3H 2O used esp. as a biological stain, an antidote in cyanide poisoning, and an oxidation-reduction indicator
methylene chloride -n
- a toxic nonflammable liquid CH 2Cl 2used esp. as a solvent, paint remover, and aerosol propellant
methyl ethyl ketone -n
- a flammable liquid compound C 4H 8O similar to acetone and used chiefly as a solvent abbr. MEK
methyl isocyanate -n
- an extremely toxic chemical CH 3NCO used esp. in the manufacture of pesticides abbr. MIC
meth·yl·mer·cury [,me-thəl-'mər-kyə-rē, -'mər-k(ə-)rē] -n
- any of various toxic compounds of mercury containing the complex CH 3Hg that often occur as pollutants which accumulate in living organisms (as fish) esp. in higher levels of a food chain
methyl methacrylate -n
- a volatile flammable liquid C 5H 8O 2that polymerizes readily and is used esp. as a monomer for resins
meth·yl·naph·tha·lene [,me-thəl-'naf-thə-,lēn, -'nap-] -n
- either of two isomeric hydrocarbons C 11H 10
- an oily liquid used in determining cetane numbers
methyl orange -n
- an alkaline dye used as a chemical indicator
methyl parathion -n
- a potent synthetic organophosphate insecticide C 8H 10NO 5PS that is more toxic than parathion
meth·yl·phe·ni·date [,me-thəl-'fe-nə-,dāt, -'fē-] -n
- a mild stimulant C 14H 19NO 2of the central nervous system used in the form of its hydrochloride to treat narcolepsy and hyperactivity disorders (as attention deficit disorder) in children
meth·yl·pred·nis·o·lone [-pred-'ni-sə-,lōn] -n
- a glucocorticoid C 22H 30O 5that is a derivative of prednisolone and is used as an anti-inflammatory agent
- any of several of its salts (as an acetate) used similarly
meth·yl·xan·thine [-'zan-,thēn] -n
- a methylated xanthine derivative (as caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline)
meth·y·ser·gide [,me-thə-'sər-,jīd] -n
- a serotonin antagonist C 21H 27N 3O 2used in the form of its maleate esp. in the treatment and prevention of migraine headaches
me·tic·u·lous [mə-'ti-kyə-ləs] -adj, n, adv
- marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details
me·tier ['me-,tyā, me-'] -n
- vocation, trade
- an area of activity in which one excels : forte
me·tis [mā-'tē(s)] -n
- a person of mixed blood
- the offspring of an American Indian and a person of European ancestry
met·o·nym ['me-tə-,nim] -n
- a word used in metonymy
me·ton·y·my [mə-'tä-nə-mē] -n, adj
- a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated (as crown in lands belonging to the crown)
metoo ['mē-'tü] -adj, n
- marked by similarity to or by adoption of successful or persuasive policies or practices used or promoted by someone else
- similar or identical to an established product (as a drug) with no significant advantage over it
met·o·pe ['me-tə-(,)pē] -n
- the space between two triglyphs of a Doric frieze often adorned with carved work
met·o·pro·lol [me-'tō-prə-,lȯl, -,lōl] -n
- a beta-blocker C 15H 25NO 3used in the form of its succinate and tartrate esp. to treat hypertension and angina pectoris
me·tre ['mē-tər] -n
(variant of meter)
- : systematically arranged and measured rhythm in verse:
- rhythm that continuously repeats a single basic pattern
- rhythm characterized by regular recurrence of a systematic arrangement of basic patterns in larger figures
- a measure or unit of metrical verse usu. used in combination
- a fixed metrical pattern : verse form
- the basic recurrent rhythmical pattern of note values, accents, and beats per measure in music
met·ric ['me-trik] -n
- a part of prosody that deals with metrical structure
- a standard of measurement
- no metric exists that can be applied directly to happiness -- Scientific Monthly
- a mathematical function that associates a real nonnegative number analogous to distance with each pair of elements in a set such that the number is zero only if the two elements are identical, the number is the same regardless of the order in which the two elements are taken, and the number associated with one pair of elements plus that associated with one member of the pair and a third element is equal to or greater than the number associated with the other member of the pair and the third element
metric [-tri-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or using the metric system
met·ri·cal ['me-tri-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or composed in meter
- of or relating to measurement
met·ri·ca·tion [,me-tri-'kā-shən] -n
- the act or process of metricizing
- conversion of an existent system of units into the metric system
met·ri·cize ['me-trə-,sīz] -vt
- to change into or express in the metric system
metric space -n
- a mathematical set for which a metric is defined for any pair of elements
metric system -n
- a decimal system of weights and measures based on the meter and on the kilogram
me·trist ['me-trist, 'mē-] -n
- a maker of verses
- one skillful in handling meter
- a student of meter or metrics
met·ro ['me-(,)trō, in French context also mā-'] -n
- subway
- metropolitan
me·trol·o·gy [me-'trä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the science of weights and measures or of measurement
- a system of weights and measures
met·ro·ni·da·zole [,me-trə-'nī-də-,zōl] -n
- a drug C 6H 9N 3O 3used esp. to treat vaginal trichomoniasis, amebiasis, and infections by anaerobic bacteria
met·ro·nome ['me-trə-,nōm] -n
- an instrument designed to mark exact time by a regularly repeated tick
met·ro·nom·ic [,me-trə-'nä-mik] -adj, adv
- mechanically regular (as in action or tempo)
me·trop·o·lis [mə-'trä-p(ə-)ləs] -n
- the chief or capital city of a country, state, or region
- the city or state of origin of a colony (as of ancient Greece)
- a city regarded as a center of a specified activity
- a large important city
met·ro·pol·i·tan [,me-trə-'pä-lə-tən] -n
- the primate of an ecclesiastical province
- one who lives in a metropolis or displays metropolitan manners or customs
metropolitan -adj
- of or constituting a metropolitan or his see
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a metropolis and sometimes including its suburbs
- of, relating to, or constituting a mother country as distinguished from a colony
me·tror·rha·gia [,mē-trə-'rā-j(ē-)ə, -'rā-zhə; -'rä-jə, -zhə] -n
- irregular uterine bleeding esp. between menstrual periods
met·ro·sex·u·al [,me-trə-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -'sek-shəl] -n, adj
- a usu. urban heterosexual male given to enhancing his personal appearance by fastidious grooming, beauty treatments, and fashionable clothes
met·tle ['me-tᵊl] -n, adj
- vigor and strength of spirit or temperament
- staying quality : stamina
- equipment that proved its mettle
- quality of temperament or disposition
- gentlemen of brave mettle -- Shak.
met·tle·some ['me-tᵊl-səm] -adj
- full of mettle : spirited
meu·niere [(,)mə(r)n-'yer, mœn-] -adj
- rolled lightly in flour and sauteed in butter
Meur·sault [mə(r)-'sō, mœ-] -n
- a dry white burgundy wine
MeV -abbr
- million electron volts
mew ['myü] -n
- gull
- a small gull ( Larus canus) of Eurasia and western No. America
- to utter a mew or similar sound
- gulls mew ed over the bay
- to utter by mewing : meow
- meow
- an enclosure for trained hawks usu. used in pl.
- a place for hiding or retirement
- stables usu. with living quarters built around a court
- living quarters adapted from such stables
- back street : alley
- to shut up : confine often used with up
mewl ['myül] -vi
- to cry weakly : whimper
Mex·i·can ['mek-si-kən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Mexico
- a person of Mexican descent
- a person of mixed Spanish and Indian descent
- nahuatl
Mexican bean beetle -n
- a spotted ladybug ( Epilachna varivestis) that feeds on the leaves of beans
Mexican jumping bean -n
- jumping bean
Mexican Spanish -n
- the Spanish used in Mexico
Mexican standoff -n
- a situation in which no one emerges a clear winner
- deadlock
me·ze [me-'zā, 'mā-(,)zā] -n
- an appetizer in Greek or Middle Eastern cuisine often served with an aperitif
me·ze·re·on [mə-'zir-ē-ən] -n
- a small Eurasian shrub ( Daphne mezereumof the family Thymelaeaceae, the mezereon family) with purple flowers and poisonous emetic leaves, fruit, and bark
me·zu·zah [mə-'zu̇-zə] -n
- a small parchment scroll inscribed with Deut 6:49 and 11:1321 and the name Shaddai and placed in a case fixed to the doorpost by some Jewish families as a sign and reminder of their faith
- such a scroll and its case
mez·za·nine ['me-zə-,nēn, ,me-zə-'] -n
- a low-ceilinged story between two main stories of a building
- an intermediate story that projects in the form of a balcony
- the lowest balcony in a theater
- the first few rows of such a balcony
mez·za vo·ce [,met-sä-'vō-(,)chā, ,med-zä-] -adv or adj
- with medium or half volume used as a direction in music
mez·zo ['met-(,)sō, 'med-(,)zō] -n
- mezzo-soprano
mez·zo for·te [,met-(,)sō-'fȯr-,tā, ,med-(,)zō-, -'fȯr-tē] -adj or adv
- moderately loud used as a direction in music
mez·zo pia·no [-pē-'ä-(,)nō] -adj or adv
- moderately soft used as a direction in music
mez·zore·lie·vo [-ri-'lē-(,)vō, -rēl-'yā-(,)vō] -n
- sculptural relief intermediate between bas-relief and high relief
mez·zoso·pra·no [-sə-'pra-(,)nō, -'prä-] -n
- a woman's voice with a range between soprano and contralto
- a singer having this voice
mez·zo·tint ['met-sō-,tint, 'med-zō-] -n
- a manner of engraving on copper or steel by scraping or burnishing a roughened surface to produce light and shade
- an engraving produced by mezzotint