EC -abbr

  1. European Community; European Communities

ec·cen·tric [ik-'sen-trik, ek-] -adj, adv

  1. deviating from an established or usual pattern or style
    • eccentric products
  2. deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct esp. in odd or whimsical ways
    • an eccentric millionaire
  3. deviating from a circular path
  4. elliptical
    • an eccentric orbit
  5. located elsewhere than at the geometrical center
  6. having the axis or support so located
    • an eccentric wheel

eccentric -n

  1. a mechanical device consisting of an eccentric disk communicating its motion to a rod so as to produce reciprocating motion
  2. an eccentric person

ec·cen·tric·i·ty [,ek-(,)sen-'tri-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being eccentric
  2. deviation from an established pattern or norm
  3. odd or whimsical behavior
  4. a mathematical constant that for a given conic section is the ratio of the distances from any point of the conic section to a focus and the corresponding directrix
  5. the eccentricity of an astronomical orbit used as a measure of its deviation from circularity

ec·chy·mo·sis [,e-ki-'mō-səs] -n, adj

  1. the escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured blood vessels

eccl -abbr

  1. ecclesiastic; ecclesiastical

Eccles -abbr

  1. Ecclesiastes

ecclesi- -comb form

  1. church
    • ecclesio logy

ec·cle·si·al [i-'klē-zē-əl, e-'klē-] -adj

  1. of or relating to a church

Ec·cle·si·as·tes [i-,klē-zē-'as-(,)tēz, e-,klē-] -n

  1. a book of wisdom literature in canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture

ec·cle·si·as·tic [-'as-tik] -adj

  1. ecclesiastical

ecclesiastic -n

  1. clergyman

ec·cle·si·as·ti·cal [-ti-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a church esp. as an established institution
  2. suitable for use in a church

ec·cle·si·as·ti·cism [-tə-,si-zəm] -n

  1. excessive attachment to ecclesiastical forms and practices

Ec·cle·si·as·ti·cus [-ti-kəs] -n

  1. a didactic book included in the Protestant Apocrypha and as Sirach in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament

ec·cle·si·ol·o·gy [i-,klē-zē-'ä-lə-jē, e-,klē-] -n, adj

  1. the study of church architecture and adornment
  2. theological doctrine relating to the church

Ecclus -abbr

  1. Ecclesiasticus

ec·crine gland ['e-krən-, -,krīn-, -,krēn-] -n

  1. any of the rather small sweat glands in the human skin that produce a fluid secretion without removing cytoplasm from the secretory cells called also eccrine sweat gland

ec·dys·i·ast [ek-'di-zē-,ast, -zē-əst] -n

  1. stripteaser

ec·dy·sis ['ek-də-səs] -n

  1. the act of molting or shedding an outer cuticular layer

ec·dy·sone ['ek-də-,sōn] -n

  1. any of several arthropod hormones that in insects are produced by the prothoracic gland and that trigger molting and metamorphosis

ece·sis [i-'sē-səs, -'kē-] -n

  1. the establishment of a plant or animal in a new habitat

ECG -abbr

  1. electrocardiogram

echelle [ā-'shel] -n

  1. a diffraction grating made by ruling a plane metallic mirror with lines having a relatively wide spacing

ech·e·lon ['e-shə-,län] -n

  1. an arrangement of a body of troops with its units each somewhat to the left or right of the one in the rear like a series of steps
  2. a formation of units or individuals resembling such an echelon
    • geese flying in echelon
  3. a flight formation in which each airplane flies at a certain elevation above or below and at a certain distance behind and to the right or left of the airplane ahead
  4. any of several military units in echelon formation
  5. any unit or group acting in a disciplined or organized manner
    • served in a combat echelon
  6. one of a series of levels or grades in an organization or field of activity
    • involved employees at every echelon
  7. a group of individuals at a particular level or grade in an organization
    • the upper echelon s of the bureaucracy

echelon -vt

  1. to form or arrange in an echelon
  2. to take position in an echelon

ech·e·ve·ria [,e-chə-və-'rē-ə] -n

  1. any of a large genus ( Echeveria) of tropical American succulent plants of the orpine family that have showy rosettes of often plushy basal leaves and axillary clusters of flowers with erect petals

echid·na [i-'kid-nə] -n

  1. a spiny-coated toothless burrowing nocturnal monotreme mammal ( Tachyglossus aculeatus) of Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea that has a long extensible tongue and long heavy claws and that feeds chiefly on ants
  2. a related mammal ( Zaglossus bruijni) of New Guinea having a longer snout and shorter spines

echin- -comb form

  1. prickle
    • echino derm
  2. sea urchin
    • echin oid

ech·i·na·cea [,e-ki-'nā-sē-ə, -sh(ē-)ə] -n

  1. the dried rhizome, roots, or other parts of any of three purple coneflowers that are used primarily in dietary supplements and herbal remedies for the stimulating effect they are held to have on the immune system
  2. any of these herbs

echi·no·coc·co·sis [i-,kī-nə-kä-'kō-səs] -n

  1. infestation with or disease caused by an echinococcus

echi·no·coc·cus [i-,kī-nə-'kä-kəs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Echinococcus) of tapeworms that alternate a minute adult living as a commensal in the intestine of carnivores with a hydatid larva invading tissues esp. of the liver of cattle, sheep, swine, and humans and acting as a dangerous pathogen

echi·no·derm [i-'kī-nə-,dərm] -n, adj

  1. any of a phylum (Echinodermata) of radially symmetrical coelomate marine animals including the starfishes, sea urchins, and related forms

echi·noid [i-'kī-,nȯid, 'e-kə-,nȯid] -n

  1. sea urchin

echi·nus [i-'kī-nəs] -n

  1. sea urchin
  2. the rounded molding that lies directly beneath the abacus in the capital of a column in the Greek Doric order
  3. a similar member in other orders

echi·uroid [,e-ki-'yu̇r-,ȯid] -n

  1. any of a phylum (Echiura syn. Echiuroidea) of marine worms of uncertain taxonomic affinities that have a sensitive but nonretractile proboscis above the mouth

echo ['e-(,)kō] -n, adj

  1. the repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound waves
  2. the sound due to such reflection
  3. a repetition or imitation of another : reflection
  4. repercussion, result
  5. trace, vestige
  6. response
  7. one who closely imitates or repeats another's words, ideas, or acts
  8. a soft repetition of a musical phrase
  9. the repetition of a received radio signal due esp. to reflection of part of the wave from an ionized layer of the atmosphere
  10. the reflection of transmitted radar signals by an object
  11. the visual indication of this reflection on a radarscope
  12. to resound with echoes
  13. to produce an echo
  14. repeat, imitate
    • children echo ing their teacher's words
  15. to restate in support or agreement
    • his successor echo ed his opinion
  16. to be reminiscent of : evoke
    • music that echo es an earlier time
  17. to send back (a sound) by the reflection of sound waves

Echo -n

  1. a nymph in Greek mythology who pines away for love of Narcissus until nothing is left of her but her voice
  2. a communications code word for the letter e

echo·car·dio·gram [,e-kō-'kär-dē-ə-,gram] -n

  1. a visual record made by echocardiography
  2. the procedure for producing such a record

echo·car·di·og·ra·phy [-,kär-dē-'ä-grə-fē] -n, adj

  1. the use of ultrasound to examine the structure and functioning of the heart for abnormalities and disease

echo chamber -n

  1. a room with sound-reflecting walls used for producing hollow or echoing sound effects

echo·ic [ə-'kō-ik, e-] -adj

  1. formed in imitation of some natural sound : onomatopoeic
  2. of or relating to an echo

echo·la·lia [,e-kō-'lā-lē-ə] -n, adj

  1. the often pathological repetition of what is said by other people as if echoing them

echo·lo·ca·tion [,e-kō-lō-'kā-shən] -n

  1. a physiological process for locating distant or invisible objects (as prey) by sound waves reflected back to the emitter (as a bat) from the objects

echo sounder -n

  1. an instrument for determining the depth of a body of water or of an object below the surface by sound waves

echo·vi·rus ['e-kō-,vī-rəs] -n

  1. any of numerous serotypes of an enterovirus (species Human enterovirus B) found in the gastrointestinal tract that cause cytopathic changes in cells in tissue culture and are sometimes associated with respiratory ailments and meningitis

echt ['ek̲t] -adj

  1. true, genuine
    • an echt New Yorker

eclair [ē-'kler, ā-, e-, ə-; 'ē-,, 'ā-,, 'e-,] -n

  1. a usu. chocolate-frosted oblong pastry filled with whipped cream or custard

eclair·cis·se·ment [ā-kler-sēs-(ə-)mäⁿ] -n

  1. a clearing up of something obscure : enlightenment

eclamp·sia [i-'klam(p)-sē-ə] -n, adj

  1. a convulsive state
  2. an attack of convulsions during pregnancy or parturition

eclat [ā-'klä, 'ā-,] -n

  1. ostentatious display : publicity
  2. dazzling effect : brilliance
  3. brilliant or conspicuous success
  4. praise, applause

eclec·tic [e-'klek-tik, i-] -adj, adv

  1. selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles
  2. composed of elements drawn from various sources
  3. heterogeneous

eclectic -n

  1. one who uses an eclectic method or approach

eclec·ti·cism [-'klek-tə-,si-zəm] -n

  1. the theory or practice of an eclectic method

eclipse [i-'klips] -n

  1. the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another
  2. the passing into the shadow of a celestial body
  3. a falling into obscurity or decline
  4. the state of being eclipsed
    • his reputation has fallen into eclipse
  5. the state of being in eclipse plumage
  6. : to cause an eclipse of: as
  7. obscure, darken
  8. to reduce in importance or repute
  9. surpass
    • her score eclipsed the old record

eclipse plumage -n

  1. comparatively dull plumage that is usu. of seasonal occurrence in birds exhibiting a distinct breeding plumage

eclip·tic [i-'klip-tik] -adj

  1. of or relating to the ecliptic or an eclipse

ecliptic -n

  1. the great circle of the celestial sphere that is the apparent path of the sun among the stars or of the earth as seen from the sun : the plane of the earth's orbit extended to meet the celestial sphere

ec·logue ['ek-,lȯg, -,läg] -n

  1. a poem in which shepherds converse

eclo·sion [i-'klō-zhən] -n

  1. the act of emerging from the pupal case or hatching from the egg

ECM -abbr

  1. electronic countermeasure
  2. European Common Market

eco- -comb form

  1. habitat or environment
    • eco species
  2. ecological or environmental
    • eco catastrophe

eco·ca·tas·tro·phe [,ē-(,)kō-kə-'tas-trə-fē, ,e-(,)kō-] -n

  1. a major destructive upset in the balance of nature esp. when caused by the action of humans

eco·cide ['ē-kə-,sīd, 'e-, -(,)kō-] -n, adj

  1. the destruction of large areas of the natural environment esp. as a result of deliberate human action

ecocon·scious ['ē-kō-,kän(t)-shəs, 'e-] -adj

  1. marked by or showing concern for the environment
    • ecoconscious consumers

eco·fem·i·nism [,ē-kō-'fe-mə-,ni-zəm, ,e-kō-] -n, n or adj

  1. a movement or theory that applies feminist principles and ideas to ecological issues

ecol -abbr

  1. ecological; ecology

ecol·o·gy [i-'kä-lə-jē, e-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
  2. the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment
  3. human ecology
  4. environment, climate
    • the moral ecology
  5. an often delicate or intricate system or complex
    • the ecology of language

ecom·merce ['ē-,kä-(,)mərs] -n

  1. commerce conducted via the Internet

econ -abbr

  1. economics; economist; economy

econo·box [i-'kä-nō-,bäks, ē-] -n

  1. a small economical car

econo·met·rics [i-,kä-nə-'me-triks, ē-,kä-] -n pl but sing in constr, adj, adv, n

  1. the application of statistical methods to the study of economic data and problems

eco·nom·ic [,e-kə-'nä-mik, ,ē-kə-] -adj

  1. of or relating to a household or its management
  2. economical
  3. of or relating to economics
    • economic theories
  4. of, relating to, or based on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
    • economic growth
  5. of or relating to an economy
    • a group of economic advisers
  6. having practical or industrial significance or uses : affecting material resources
  7. profitable

eco·nom·i·cal [-'nä-mi-kəl] -adj

  1. economic
  2. marked by careful, efficient, and prudent use of resources : thrifty
    • an economical shopper
  3. operating with little waste or at a saving
    • an economical car

eco·nom·i·cal·ly [-'nä-mi-k(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. in an economic or economical manner

economic rent -n

  1. the return for the use of a factor in excess of the minimum required to bring forth its service

eco·nom·ics [,e-kə-'nä-miks, ,ē-kə-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
  2. economic theory, principles, or practices
    • sound economics
  3. economic aspect or significance
    • the economics of building a new stadium
  4. economic conditions
    • current economics

econ·o·mise [-,mīz] -vb, n

(variant of economize)

  1. to practice economy : be frugal
  2. to use frugally : save

econ·o·mist [i-'kä-nə-mist] -n

  1. one who practices economy
  2. a specialist in economics

econ·o·mize [-,mīz] -vb, n

  1. to practice economy : be frugal
  2. to use frugally : save

econ·o·my [i-'kä-nə-mē, ə-, ē-] -n

  1. the management of household or private affairs and esp. expenses
  2. thrifty and efficient use of material resources : frugality in expenditures
  3. an instance or a means of economizing : saving
  4. efficient and concise use of nonmaterial resources (as effort, language, or motion)
  5. the arrangement or mode of operation of something : organization
  6. a system esp. of interaction and exchange
    • an economy of information
  7. the structure or conditions of economic life in a country, area, or period
  8. an economic system

economy -adj

  1. designed to save money
    • economy cars

economy of scale

  1. a reduction in the cost of producing something (as a car or a unit of electricity) brought about esp. by increased size of production facilities usu. used in pl.

eco·phys·i·ol·o·gy [,ē-kō-,fi-zē-'ä-lə-jē, ,e-kō-] -n, adj

  1. the science of the interrelationships between the physiology of organisms and their environment

eco·sphere ['ē-kō-,sfir, 'e-kō-] -n

  1. the parts of the universe habitable by living organisms
  2. biosphere

eco·sys·tem [-,sis-təm] -n

  1. the complex of a community of organisms and its environment functioning as an ecological unit

eco·ter·ror·ism [,ē-kō-'ter-ər-i-zəm, ,e-kō-] -n, n or adj

  1. sabotage intended to hinder activities that are considered damaging to the environment
  2. political terrorism intended to damage an enemy's natural environment

eco·tone ['ē-kə-,tōn, 'e-kə-] -n, adj

  1. a transition area between two adjacent ecological communities

eco·tour [-,tu̇r] -n

  1. a trip that follows the principles of ecotourism

eco·tour·ism [,ē-kō-'tu̇r-,i-zəm, ,e-kō-] -n

  1. the practice of touring natural habitats in a manner meant to minimize ecological impact

eco·tox·i·col·o·gy [-,täk-si-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a scientific discipline combining the methods of ecology and toxicology in studying the effects of toxic substances and esp. pollutants on the environment

eco·type ['ē-kə-,tīp, 'e-] -n, adj

  1. a population of a species that survives as a distinct group through environmental selection and isolation and that is comparable with a taxonomic subspecies

ecphrasis ['ek-frə-səs] -n

(variant of ekphrasis)

  1. a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art

ecru ['e-(,)krü, 'ā-(,)krü] -n, adj

  1. beige

ec·sta·sy ['ek-stə-sē] -n

  1. a state of being beyond reason and self-control
  2. swoon
  3. a state of overwhelming emotion
  4. rapturous delight
  5. trance
  6. a mystic or prophetic trance
  7. a synthetic amphetamine analog C 11H 15NO 2used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties called also MDMA

ec·stat·ic [ek-'sta-tik, ik-'sta-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or marked by ecstasy

ecstatic -n

  1. one that is subject to ecstasies

ECT -abbr

  1. electroconvulsive therapy

ect- -comb form

  1. outside : external
    • ecto derm

ec·to·derm ['ek-tə-,dərm] -n, adj

  1. the outer cellular membrane of a diploblastic animal (as a jellyfish)
  2. the outermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo that is the source of various tissues and structures (as the epidermis, the nervous system, and the eyes and ears)
  3. a tissue (as neural tissue) derived from this germ layer

ec·to·morph ['ek-tə-,mȯrf] -n

  1. an ectomorphic individual

ec·to·mor·phic [,ek-tə-'mȯr-fik] -adj

  1. of or relating to the component in W. H. Sheldon's classification of body types that measures the body's degree of slenderness, angularity, and fragility
  2. characterized by a lean slender body build with slight muscular development

ec·to·par·a·site [,ek-tō-'per-ə-,sīt, -'pa-rə-] -n, adj

  1. a parasite that lives on the exterior of its host

ec·top·ic [ek-'tä-pik] -adj, adv

  1. occurring in an abnormal position or in an unusual manner or form
    • ectopic lesions

ectopic pregnancy -n

  1. development of a fertilized egg elsewhere than in the uterus (as in a fallopian tube or the peritoneal cavity)

ec·to·plasm ['ek-tə-,pla-zəm] -n, adj

  1. the outer relatively rigid granule-free layer of the cytoplasm usu. held to be a gel reversibly convertible to a sol
  2. a substance held to produce spirit materialization and telekinesis

ec·to·therm ['ek-tə-,thərm] -n, adj

  1. a cold-blooded animal : poikilotherm

ec·to·tro·phic [,ek-tə-'trō-fik] -adj

  1. growing in a close web on the surface of the associated root

ecu ['ā-,kyü, ā-kᵫ] -n

  1. any of various old French units of value
  2. a coin representing an ecu
  3. a money of account based on the currency units of members of the European Union from 1979 up to the introduction of the euro in 1999

Ecua -abbr

  1. Ecuador

ec·u·men·i·cal [,e-kyə-'me-ni-kəl, -kyü-] -adj, adv

  1. worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application
  2. of, relating to, or representing the whole of a body of churches
  3. promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation

ec·u·men·i·cal·ism [-'me-ni-kə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. ecumenism

ecumenical patriarch -n

  1. the patriarch of Constantinople as the dignitary given first honor in the Eastern Orthodox Church

ec·u·men·i·cism [,e-kyə-'me-nə-,si-zəm, -kyü-] -n

  1. ecumenism

ec·u·me·nic·i·ty [,e-kyə-mə-'ni-sə-tē, -me-, -kyü-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being drawn close to others through ecumenism

ec·u·men·ics [-'me-niks] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. the study of the nature, mission, problems, and strategy of the Christian church from the perspective of its ecumenical character

ecu·me·nism [e-'kyü-mə-,ni-zəm, i- also 'e-kyə- or ,e-kyə-'me-] -n

  1. ecumenical principles and practices esp. as shown among religious groups (as Christian denominations)

ec·ze·ma [ig-'zē-mə, 'eg-zə-mə, 'ek-sə-] -n, adj

  1. an inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by redness, itching, and oozing vesicular lesions which become scaly, crusted, or hardened