Ci -abbr
- cirrus
- curie
CI -abbr
- cast iron
- certificate of insurance
- Channel Islands
cia -abbr
- company
CIA -abbr
- Central Intelligence Agency
- certified internal auditor
CIAA -abbr
- Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
cia·bat·ta [chə-'bä-tə] -n
- a flat oblong bread having a moist interior and a crispy crust
ciao ['chau̇] -interj
- used conventionally as an utterance at meeting or parting
ci·bo·ri·um [sə-'bȯr-ē-əm] -n
- a goblet-shaped vessel for holding eucharistic bread
- baldachin
- a freestanding vaulted canopy supported by four columns over a high altar
CIC -abbr
- combat information center
- counterintelligence corps
ci·ca·da [sə-'kā-də, -'kä-; sī-'kā-] -n
- any of a family (Cicadidae) of homopterous insects which have a stout body, wide blunt head, and large transparent wings and the males of which produce a loud buzzing noise usu. by stridulation
ci·ca·la [sə-'kä-lə] -n
- cicada
cic·a·tri·cial [,si-kə-'tri-shəl] -adj
- of or relating to a cicatrix
ci·ca·trix ['si-kə-,triks, sə-'kā-triks] -n
- a scar resulting from formation and contraction of fibrous tissue in a wound
- a mark resembling a scar esp. when caused by the previous attachment of an organ or part (as a leaf)
cic·a·tri·za·tion [,si-kə-trə-'zā-shən] -n, vt
- scar formation at the site of a healing wound
ci·ce·ro·ne [,si-sə-'rō-nē, ,chē-chə-] -n
- a guide who conducts sightseers
- mentor, tutor
cich·lid ['si-kləd] -n, adj
- any of a family (Cichlidae) of mostly tropical spiny-finned usu. freshwater fishes including several kept in tropical aquariums
ci·cis·beo [,chē-chəz-'bā-(,)ō] -n
- lover, gallant
cid -abbr
- cubic inch displacement
CID -abbr
- civil investigative demand
- Criminal Investigation Department
ci·der ['sī-dər] -n
- fermented apple juice often made sparkling by carbonation or fermentation in a sealed container
- the expressed juice of fruit (as apples) used as a beverage or for making other products (as applejack)
cider vinegar -n
- vinegar made from fermented cider
cide·vant [,sē-də-'väⁿ] -adj
- former
cie -abbr
- company
CIF -abbr
- central information file
- cost, insurance, and freight
cig ['sig] -n
- cigarette
ci·gar [si-'gär] -n
- a small roll of tobacco leaf for smoking
cig·a·rette [,si-gə-'ret, 'si-gə-,] -n
- a slender roll of cut tobacco enclosed in paper and meant to be smoked
- a similar roll of another substance (as marijuana)
cig·a·ril·lo [,si-gə-'ri-(,)lō, -'rē-(,)yō] -n
- a very small cigar
- a cigarette wrapped in tobacco rather than paper
ci·gua·tera [,sē-gwə-'ter-ə, ,si-] -n
- poisoning caused by the ingestion of various normally edible tropical fish in whose flesh a toxic substance (as one produced by some dinoflagellates) has accumulated
ci·lan·tro [si-'län-(,)trō, -'lan-] -n
- leaves of coriander used as a flavoring or garnish
- coriander
cil·i·ary ['si-lē-,er-ē] -adj
- of, relating to, or being the annular suspension of the lens of the eye
- of or relating to cilia
cil·i·ate ['si-lē-ət, -lē-,āt] -n
- any of a phylum or subphylum (Ciliophora) of ciliated protozoans (as paramecia)
cil·i·at·ed ['si-lē-,ā-təd] -adj, n
- possessing cilia
- ciliated epithelial cells
cil·i·um ['si-lē-əm] -n
- a minute short hairlike process often forming part of a fringe
- one on a cell that is capable of lashing movement and serves esp. in free unicellular organisms to produce locomotion or in higher forms a current of fluid
- eyelash
ci·met·i·dine [sī-'me-tə-,dēn] -n
- a histamine analog C 10H 16N 6S that inhibits gastric acid secretion and is used esp. in the treatment of duodenal ulcers
Cim·me·ri·an [sə-'mir-ē-ən] -adj
- very dark or gloomy
- under ebon shades...in dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell -- John Milton
Cimmerian -n
- any of a mythical people described by Homer as dwelling in a remote realm of mist and gloom
cinch ['sinch] -n
- a girth for a pack or saddle
- a tight grip
- a thing done with ease
- a certainty to happen
- it's a cinch he'll break the record
- to put a cinch on
- to fasten (as a belt or strap) tightly
- to make certain : assure
- the goal that cinch ed the victory
- to tighten the cinch often used with up
cin·cho·na [siŋ-'kō-nə, sin-'chō-] -n
- any of a genus ( Cinchona) of So. American trees and shrubs of the madder family
- the dried bark of a cinchona (as C. ledgeriana) containing alkaloids (as quinine) and formerly used as a specific in malaria
cin·cho·nine ['siŋ-kə-,nēn, 'sin-chə-] -n
- a bitter white crystalline alkaloid C 19H 22N 2O found esp. in cinchona bark and used like quinine
cin·cho·nism ['siŋ-kə-,ni-zəm, 'sin-chə-] -n
- a disorder due to excessive or prolonged use of cinchona or its alkaloids and marked by temporary deafness, ringing in the ears, headache, dizziness, and rash
Cinco de Mayo [,siŋ-kō-də-'mī-ō, ,sēŋ-kō-thā-'mä-yō] -n
- a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration held on May 5 in commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862
cinc·ture ['siŋ(k)-chər] -n
- the act of encircling
- an encircling area
- girdle, belt
- a cord or sash of cloth worn around an ecclesiastical vestment or the habit of a religious
cin·der ['sin-dər] -n, adj
- the slag from a metal furnace : dross
- ashes
- a fragment of ash
- a partly burned combustible in which fire is extinct
- a hot coal without flame
- a partly burned coal capable of further burning without flame
- a fragment of lava from an erupting volcano
cinder block -n
- a hollow rectangular building block made of cement and coal cinders
cinder cone -n
- a conical hill formed by the accumulation of volcanic debris around a vent
Cin·der·el·la [,sin-də-'re-lə] -n, adj
- : one resembling the fairy-tale Cinderella: as
- one suffering undeserved neglect
- one suddenly lifted from obscurity to honor or significance
cine ['si-nē] -n
- motion picture
cine·ast ['si-nē-,ast, -nē-əst] -n
- a devotee of motion pictures
- moviemaker
cin·e·ma ['si-nə-mə, Brit also -,mä] -n
- motion picture usu. used attributively
- a motion-picture theater
- movies
- the film industry
- the art or technique of making motion pictures
cin·e·ma·go·er [-,gō-ər] -n
- moviegoer
cin·e·ma·theque [,si-nə-mə-'tek] -n
- a small movie house specializing in avant-garde films
cin·e·mat·ic [,si-nə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, suggestive of, or suitable for motion pictures or the filming of motion pictures
- cinematic principles and techniques
- filmed and presented as a motion picture
cin·e·ma·tize ['si-nə-mə-,tīz] -vt
- to make a motion picture of (as a novel) : adapt for motion pictures
cin·e·mat·o·graph [,si-nə-'ma-tə-,graf] -n
- a motion-picture camera, projector, theater, or show
cin·e·ma·tog·ra·pher [,si-nə-mə-'tä-grə-fər] -n
- a specialist in cinematography
cin·e·ma·tog·ra·phy [,si-nə-mə-'tä-grə-fē] -n, adj, adv
- the art or science of motion-picture photography
ci·ne·ma ve·ri·te ['si-nə-mə-,ver-i-'tā; si-nā-'mä-ve-rē-'tā] -n
- the art or technique of filming a motion picture so as to convey candid realism
cin·e·ole ['si-nē-,ōl] -n
- eucalyptol
cine·phile ['si-nə-,fī(-ə)l] -n
- a devotee of motion pictures
Cine·plex ['si-nə-,pleks] -service mark
- used for a movie theater containing several auditoriums in one building
cin·er·ar·ia [,si-nə-'rer-ē-ə] -n
- any of several garden or potted plants derived from a perennial senecio ( Senecio cruentus) of the Canary Islands and having heart-shaped leaves and clusters of bright flower heads
cin·er·ar·i·um [-ē-əm] -n, adj
- a place to receive the ashes of the cremated dead
ci·ne·re·ous [sə-'nir-ē-əs] -adj
- gray tinged with black
- resembling or consisting of ashes
cin·gu·lum ['siŋ-gyə-ləm] -n, adj
- an anatomical band or encircling ridge
cin·na·bar ['si-nə-,bär] -n, adj
- artificial red mercuric sulfide used esp. as a pigment
- a red mineral consisting of native mercuric sulfide HgS that is the only important ore of mercury
- a deep vivid red
cinnabar moth -n
- a European moth ( Tyria jacobaeae) that has been introduced into the western U.S. in attempts to control the tansy ragwort on which its larvae feed called also cinnabar
cin·nam·ic acid [sə-'na-mik-] -n
- a white crystalline odorless acid C 9H 8O 2found esp. in cinnamon oil and storax
cin·na·mon ['si-nə-mən] -n, adj
- any of several Asian trees (genus Cinnamomum) of the laurel family
- an aromatic spice prepared from the dried inner bark of a cinnamon (esp. C. zeylanicum)
- the bark
- a light yellowish brown
cinnamon fern -n
- a large fern ( Osmunda cinnamomea) with cinnamon-colored spore-bearing fronds shorter than and separate from the green foliage fronds
cinnamon stone -n
- essonite
cin·quain ['siŋ-,kān, 'saŋ-] -n
- a 5-line stanza
cin·que·cen·tist [,chiŋ-kwi-'chen-tist] -n
- an Italian of the cinquecento
- a poet or artist of this period
cin·que·cen·to [,chiŋ-kwi-'chen-(,)tō] -n
- the 16th century esp. in Italian art and literature
cinque·foil ['siŋk-,fȯi(-ə)l, 'saŋk-] -n
- any of a genus ( Potentilla) of herbs and shrubs of the rose family usu. having 5-lobed leaves and 5-petaled flowers called also potentilla
- a design enclosed by five joined foils
CIO -abbr
- chief information officer
ciop·pi·no [chə-'pē-(,)nō] -n
- a stew of fish and shellfish cooked usu. with tomatoes, wine, spices, and herbs
CIP -abbr
- Cataloging in Publication
ci·pher ['sī-fər] -n
- zero
- one that has no weight, worth, or influence : nonentity
- a method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning
- a message in code
- arabic numeral
- a combination of symbolic letters
- the interwoven initials of a name
cipher [-f(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to use figures in a mathematical process
- encipher
- to compute arithmetically
ci·pher·text ['sī-fər-,tekst] -n
- the enciphered form of a text or of its elements
cip·ro·flox·a·cin [,si-prə-'fläk-sə-sən, -prō-] -n
- a synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic C 17H 18FN 3O 3that is a fluorinated derivative of quinolone and is often administered in the form of its hydrochloride
cir -abbr
- circle; circular
- circuit
- circumference
circ -abbr
- circular
- circulation
cir·ca ['sər-kə] -prep
- at, in, or of approximately used esp. with dates
cir·ca·di·an [sər-'kā-dē-ən] -adj
- being, having, characterized by, or occurring in approximately 24-hour periods or cycles (as of biological activity or function)
- circadian rhythms in activity
Cir·cas·sian [(,)sər-'ka-sh(ē-)ən] -n, adj
- a member of a group of peoples of the northwestern Caucasus
- the language of the Circassian peoples
Circassian walnut -n
- the light brown irregularly black-veined wood of the English walnut much used for veneer and cabinetwork
Cir·ce ['sər-(,)sē] -n
- a sorceress who changes Odysseus' men into swine but is forced by Odysseus to change them back
cir·ci·nate ['sər-sə-,nāt] -adj, adv
- rounded, coiled
- rolled in the form of a flat coil with the apex as a center
- circinate fern fronds unfolding
cir·cle ['sər-kəl] -n
- ring, halo
- a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a fixed point within the curve
- the plane surface bounded by such a curve
- the orbit of a celestial body
- : something in the form of a circle or section of a circle: as
- diadem
- an instrument of astronomical observation the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle
- a balcony or tier of seats in a theater
- a circle formed on the surface of a sphere by the intersection of a plane that passes through it
- rotary
- an area of action or influence : realm
- cycle, round
- the wheel has come full circle
- fallacious reasoning in which something to be demonstrated is covertly assumed
- a group of persons sharing a common interest or revolving about a common center
- the sewing circle of her church
- the gossip of court circle s
- a territorial or administrative division or district
- a curving side street
circle [-k(ə-)liŋ] -vb, n
- to enclose in or as if in a circle
- to move or revolve around
- satellites circling the earth
- to move in or as if in a circle
- circulate
- to describe or extend in a circle
circle graph -n
- pie chart
cir·clet ['sər-klət] -n
- a little circle
- a circular ornament
cir·cuit ['sər-kət] -n, adj
- a usu. circular line encompassing an area
- the space enclosed within such a line
- a course around a periphery
- a circuitous or indirect route
- a regular tour (as by a traveling judge or preacher) around an assigned district or territory
- the route traveled
- a group of church congregations ministered to by one pastor
- the complete path of an electric current including usu. the source of electric energy
- an assemblage of electronic elements : hookup
- a two-way communication path between points (as in a computer)
- a neuronal pathway of the brain along which electrical and chemical signals travel
- an association of similar groups : league
- a number or series of public outlets (as theaters, radio shows, or arenas) offering the same kind of presentation
- a number of similar social gatherings
circuit -vt
- to make a circuit about
- to make a circuit
circuit board -n
- board
circuit breaker -n
- a switch that automatically interrupts the current of an overloaded electric circuit
circuit court -n
- a court that sits at two or more places within one judicial district
circuit judge -n
- a judge who holds a circuit court
cir·cu·i·tous [(,)sər-'kyü-ə-təs] -adj, adv, n
- having a circular or winding course
- not being forthright or direct in language or action
circuit rider -n
- a clergyman assigned to a circuit esp. in a rural area
cir·cuit·ry ['sər-kə-trē] -n
- the detailed plan or arrangement of an electric circuit
- the components of an electric circuit
- the network of interconnected neurons in the nervous system and esp. the brain
- circuit
cir·cu·ity [(,)sər-'kyü-ə-tē] -n
- lack of straightforwardness : indirection
cir·cu·lar ['sər-kyə-lər] -adj, n, adv
- having the form of a circle : round
- moving in or describing a circle or spiral
- of or relating to a circle or its mathematical properties
- having a circular base or bases
- circuitous, indirect
- marked by or moving in a cycle
- being or involving reasoning that uses in the argument or proof a conclusion to be proved or one of its unproved consequences
- intended for circulation
circular -n
- a paper (as a leaflet) intended for wide distribution
circular dichroism -n
- the property (as of an optically active medium) of unequal absorption of right and left plane-polarized light so that the emergent light is elliptically polarized
- a spectroscopic technique that makes use of circular dichroism
circular file -n
- wastebasket
circular function -n
- trigonometric function
cir·cu·lar·ise ['sər-kyə-lə-,rīz] -vt, n
(variant of circularize)
- to send circulars to
- to poll by questionnaire
- publicize
- to make circular
cir·cu·lar·ize ['sər-kyə-lə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to send circulars to
- to poll by questionnaire
- publicize
- to make circular
circular saw -n
- a power saw with a circular cutting blade
- the blade itself
cir·cu·late ['sər-kyə-,lāt] -vb, adj, n
- to move in a circle, circuit, or orbit
- to follow a course that returns to the starting point
- blood circulate s through the body
- : to pass from person to person or place to place: as
- to flow without obstruction
- to become well-known or widespread
- rumors circulated through the town
- to go from group to group at a social gathering
- to come into the hands of readers
- to become sold or distributed
- to cause to circulate
circulating decimal -n
- repeating decimal
cir·cu·la·tion [,sər-kyə-'lā-shən] -n
- orderly movement through a circuit
- the movement of blood through the vessels of the body induced by the pumping action of the heart
- flow
- passage or transmission from person to person or place to place
- the interchange of currency
- : the extent of dissemination: as
- the average number of copies of a publication sold over a given period
- the total number of items borrowed from a library
cir·cu·la·to·ry ['sər-kyə-lə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- of or relating to circulation or the circulatory system
circulatory system -n
- the system of blood, blood vessels, lymphatics, and heart concerned with the circulation of the blood and lymph
circum- -prefix
- around : about
cir·cum·am·bi·ent [,sər-kᵊm-'am-bē-ənt] -adj, adv
- being on all sides : encompassing
cir·cum·am·bu·late [-'am-byə-,lāt] -vt, n
- to circle on foot esp. ritualistically
cir·cum·cen·ter ['sər-kᵊm-,sen-tər] -n
- the point at which the perpendicular bisectors of the sides of a triangle intersect and which is equidistant from the three vertices
cir·cum·cir·cle [-,sər-kəl] -n
- a circle which passes through all the vertices of a polygon (as a triangle)
cir·cum·cise ['sər-kᵊm-,sīz] -vt, n
- to cut off the foreskin of (a male) or the prepuce of (a female)
- to cut off all or part of the external genitalia and esp. the clitoris and labia minora of (a female)
cir·cum·ci·sion [,sər-kᵊm-'si-zhən, 'sər-kᵊm-,] -n
- the act of circumcising
- a Jewish rite performed on male infants as a sign of inclusion in the Jewish religious community
- the condition of being circumcised
- January 1 observed as a festival in some churches in commemoration of the circumcision of Jesus
cir·cum·fer·ence [sə(r)-'kəm(p)-fərn(t)s, -f(ə-)rən(t)s] -n, adj
- the perimeter of a circle
- the external boundary or surface of a figure or object : periphery
cir·cum·flex ['sər-kᵊm-,fleks] -adj
- characterized by the pitch, quantity, or quality indicated by a circumflex
- marked with a circumflex
circumflex -n
- a mark , , or orig. used in Greek over long vowels to indicate a rising-falling tone and in other languages to mark length, contraction, or a particular vowel quality
cir·cum·flu·ent [(,)sər-'kəm-flü-ənt] -adj
- flowing round or surrounding in the manner of a fluid
cir·cum·fuse [,sər-kᵊm-'fyüz] -vt, n
- surround
cir·cum·ja·cent [,sər-kᵊm-'jā-sᵊnt] -adj
- lying adjacent on all sides : surrounding
cir·cum·lo·cu·tion [,sər-kᵊm-lō-'kyü-shən] -n, adj
- the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea
- evasion in speech
cir·cum·lu·nar [,sər-kəm-'lü-nər] -adj
- revolving about or surrounding the moon
cir·cum·nav·i·gate [-'na-və-,gāt] -vt, n
- to go completely around (as the earth) esp. by water
- to go around instead of through : bypass
- circumnavigate a congested area
cir·cum·po·lar [,sər-kᵊm-'pō-lər] -adj
- continually visible above the horizon
- surrounding or found in the vicinity of a terrestrial pole
cir·cum·scis·sile [-'si-səl, -,sī(-ə)l] -adj
- dehiscing by fissure around the capsule of the fruit
cir·cum·scribe ['sər-kᵊm-,skrīb] -vt
- to constrict the range or activity of definitely and clearly
- his role was carefully circumscribed
- to define or mark off carefully
- a study of plant species in a circumscribed area
- to draw a line around
- to surround by or as if by a boundary
- fields circumscribed by tall trees
- to construct or be constructed around (a geometrical figure) so as to touch as many points as possible
cir·cum·scrip·tion [,sər-kᵊm-'skrip-shən] -n
- : the act of circumscribing : the state of being circumscribed: as
- definition, delimitation
- the circumscription of her duties
- limitation
- : something that circumscribes: as
- limit, boundary
- restriction
- a circumscription of his power to act
- a circumscribed area or district
cir·cum·spect ['sər-kᵊm-,spekt] -adj, n, adv
- careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences : prudent
- diplomacy required a circumspect response
cir·cum·stance ['sər-kᵊm-,stan(t)s, -stən(t)s] -n
- a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another : an essential or inevitable concomitant
- the weather is a circumstance to be taken into consideration
- a subordinate or accessory fact or detail
- cost is a minor circumstance in this case
- a piece of evidence that indicates the probability or improbability of an event (as a crime)
- the circumstance of the missing weapon told against him
- the circumstance s suggest murder
- the sum of essential and environmental factors (as of an event or situation)
- constant and rapid change in economic circumstance -- G. M. Trevelyan
- state of affairs : eventuality
- open rebellion was a rare circumstance
often used in pl. - a victim of circumstance s
- situation with regard to wealth
- he was in easy circumstance s
- rose from difficult circumstance s
- attendant formalities and ceremonial
- pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war -- Shak.
- an event that constitutes a detail (as of a narrative or course of events)
- considering each circumstance in turn
cir·cum·stanced [-,stan(t)st, -stən(t)st] -adj
- placed in particular circumstances esp. in regard to property or income
cir·cum·stan·tial [,sər-kᵊm-'stan(t)-shəl] -adj, n, adv
- belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances
- pertinent but not essential : incidental
- marked by careful attention to detail : abounding in factual details
- a circumstantial account of the fight
- ceremonial
circumstantial evidence -n
- evidence that tends to prove a fact by proving other events or circumstances which afford a basis for a reasonable inference of the occurrence of the fact at issue
cir·cum·stan·ti·ate [,sər-kᵊm-'stan(t)-shē-,āt] -vt
- to supply with circumstantial evidence or support
cir·cum·stel·lar [,sər-kᵊm-'ste-lər] -adj
- surrounding or occurring in the vicinity of a star
cir·cum·val·late [-'va-,lāt] -vt, n
- to surround by or as if by a rampart
- being any of approximately 12 large papillae near the back of the tongue each of which is surrounded with a marginal sulcus and supplied with taste buds responsive esp. to bitter flavors
cir·cum·vent [,sər-kᵊm-'vent] -vt, n
- to hem in
- to make a circuit around
- to manage to get around esp. by ingenuity or stratagem
- the setup circumvent ed the red tape -- Lynne McTaggart
cir·cum·vo·lu·tion [sər-,kəm-və-'lü-shən, ,sər-kᵊm-vō-] -n
- an act or instance of turning around an axis
cir·cus ['sər-kəs] -n, adj
- a large arena enclosed by tiers of seats on three or all four sides and used esp. for sports or spectacles (as athletic contests, exhibitions of horsemanship, or in ancient times chariot racing)
- a public spectacle
- an arena often covered by a tent and used for variety shows usu. including feats of physical skill, wild animal acts, and performances by clowns
- a circus performance
- the physical plant, livestock, and personnel of such a circus
- something suggestive of a circus (as in frenzied activity, sensationalism, theatricality, or razzle-dazzle)
- circle, ring
- a usu. circular area at an intersection of streets
circus catch -n
- a catch (as in baseball or football) requiring an extraordinary or spectacular effort
ci·re [sə-'rā, sē-] -n
- a highly glazed finish for fabrics usu. achieved by applying wax to the fabric
- a fabric or garment with a cire finish
cirque ['sərk] -n
- circus
- circle, circlet
- a deep steep-walled basin on a mountain usu. forming the blunt end of a valley
cir·rho·sis [sə-'rō-səs] -n, adj or n
- widespread disruption of normal liver structure by fibrosis and the formation of regenerative nodules that is caused by any of various chronic progressive conditions affecting the liver (as long-term alcohol abuse or hepatitis)
cirro- -comb form
- cirrus
cir·ro·cu·mu·lus [,sir-ō-'kyü-myə-ləs] -n
- a high-altitude cloud form consisting of small white rounded masses usu. in regular groupings
cir·ro·stra·tus [,sir-ō-'strā-təs, -'stra-] -n
- a fairly uniform high thin cloud layer darker than cirrus and often covering the entire sky
cir·rus ['sir-əs] -n
- tendril
- : a slender usu. flexible animal appendage or projection: as
- an arm of a barnacle
- a filament of a crinoid
- a fused group of cilia functioning like a limb on some protozoans
- the male copulatory organ of various invertebrate animals
- a high wispy white cloud usu. of minute ice crystals formed at altitudes between about 20,000 and 40,000 feet (6,000 and 12,000 meters)
cis ['sis] -adj
- characterized by having certain atoms or groups of atoms on the same side of the longitudinal axis of a double bond or of the plane of a ring in a molecule
CIS -abbr
- Commonwealth of Independent States
cis- -prefix
- on this side
- cis
cis·al·pine [(,)sis-'al-,pīn] -adj
- situated on the south side of the Alps
cis·at·lan·tic [-at-'lan-tik, -ət-] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the side of the Atlantic Ocean regarded as the near side
cis·co ['sis-(,)kō] -n
- any of various whitefishes (genus Coregonus)
- lake herring
cis·lu·nar [(,)sis-'lü-nər] -adj
- lying between the earth and the moon or the moon's orbit
cis·plat·in [(,)sis-'pla-tᵊn] -n
- a platinum-containing antineoplastic drug Cl 2H 6N 2Pt used esp. in the treatment of testicular and ovarian tumors and advanced bladder cancer
cisplat·i·num [-'plat-nəm, -'pla-tᵊn-əm] -n
- cisplatin
cis·sy ['si-sē] -n, adj
(variant of sissy)
- an effeminate man or boy
- a timid or cowardly person
cist ['sist, 'kist] -n
- a neolithic or Bronze Age burial chamber typically lined with stone
Cis·ter·cian [sis-'tər-shən] -n, adj
- a member of a monastic order founded by St. Robert of Molesme in 1098 at Citeaux, France, under Benedictine rule
cis·tern ['sis-tərn] -n
- an artificial reservoir (as an underground tank) for storing liquids and esp. water (as rainwater)
- a large usu. silver vessel formerly used (as in cooling wine) at the dining table
- a fluid-containing sac or cavity in an organism
cis·ter·na [sis-'tər-nə] -n, adj
- : cistern : as
- one of the large spaces under the arachnoid membrane
- one of the flattened vesicles comprising the Golgi apparatus and the part of the endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes
cis·tron ['sis-,trän] -n, adj
- a segment of DNA that is equivalent to a gene and that specifies a single functional unit (as a protein or enzyme)
cit -abbr
- citation; cited
- citizen
cit·a·del ['si-tə-dᵊl, -,del] -n
- a fortress that commands a city
- stronghold
- the nation's citadel of health research -- Constance Holden
- a citadel of higher education
ci·ta·tion [sī-'tā-shən] -n, adj
- an official summons to appear (as before a court)
- an act of quoting
- the citing of a previously settled case at law
- excerpt, quotation
- : mention: as
- a formal statement of the achievements of a person receiving an academic honor
- specific reference in a military dispatch to meritorious performance of duty
cite ['sīt] -vt, adj
- to call upon officially or authoritatively to appear (as before a court)
- to quote by way of example, authority, or proof
- cite s several noteworthy authors
- to refer to
- to mention formally in commendation or praise
- to name in a citation
- to bring forward or call to another's attention esp. as an example, proof, or precedent
- cite d the weather as a reason for canceling the picnic
cithara ['ki-thə-rə] -n
(variant of kithara)
- an ancient Greek stringed instrument similar to but larger than the lyre and having a box-shaped resonator
cith·er ['si-thər, -thər] -n
- cittern
cit·ied ['si-tēd] -adj
- occupied by cities
cit·i·fied ['si-ti-,fīd] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a sophisticated urban style of living
cit·i·fy [-,fī] -vt, n
- urbanize
cit·i·zen ['si-tə-zən also -sən] -n, adj
- an inhabitant of a city or town
- one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
- a member of a state
- a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
- a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state
cit·i·zen·ess [-zə-nəs also -sə-] -n
- a woman who is a citizen
cit·i·zen·ry [-zən-rē also -sən-] -n
- a whole body of citizens
citizen's arrest -n
- an arrest made not by a law officer but by a citizen who derives authority from the fact of being a citizen
citizens band -n
- a range of radio-wave frequencies that in the U.S. is allocated officially for private radio communications
cit·i·zen·ship ['si-tə-zən-,ship] -n
- the status of being a citizen
- membership in a community (as a college)
- the quality of an individual's response to membership in a community
citr- -comb form
- citrus
- citric acid
cit·ral ['si-,tral] -n
- an unsaturated liquid isomeric aldehyde C 10H 16O of many essential oils that has a strong lemon odor and is used esp. in perfumery and as a flavoring
cit·rate ['si-,trāt] -n
- a salt or ester of citric acid
cit·ric acid ['si-trik-] -n
- a tricarboxylic acid C 6H 8O 7occurring in cellular metabolism, obtained esp. from lemon and lime juices or by fermentation of sugars, and used chiefly as a flavoring
citric acid cycle -n
- krebs cycle
cit·ri·cul·ture ['si-trə-,kəl-chər] -n
- the cultivation of citrus fruits
cit·rine ['si-,trīn] -adj
- resembling a citron or lemon esp. in color
ci·trine [si-'trēn] -n
- a semiprecious yellow stone resembling topaz and formed by heating a black quartz in order to change its color
ci·tri·nin [si-'trī-nən] -n
- a toxic antibiotic C 13H 14O 5that is produced esp. by a penicillium ( Penicillium citrinum) and an aspergillus ( Aspergillus niveus) and is effective against some gram-positive bacteria
cit·ron ['si-trən] -n
- a citrus fruit resembling a lemon but larger with little pulp and a very thick rind
- a small shrubby tree ( Citrus medica) that produces citrons and is cultivated in tropical regions
- the preserved rind of the citron used esp. in cakes and puddings
- a small hard-fleshed watermelon used esp. in pickles and preserves
cit·ro·nel·la [,si-trə-'ne-lə] -n
- a lemon-scented grass ( Cymbopogon nardus) of southern Asia that yields an oil used in perfumery and as an insect repellent
- its oil
cit·ro·nel·lal [-'ne-,lal] -n
- a lemon-odored aldehyde C 10H 18O that is derived esp. from citronella oil and is used in perfumery and as an insect repellent
cit·ro·nel·lol [-'ne-,lȯl, -,lōl] -n
- an unsaturated liquid alcohol C 10H 20O with a roselike odor that is found in two optically active forms in many essential oils (as rose oil) and is used in perfumery and soaps
ci·trov·o·rum factor [sə-'trä-və-rəm-] -n
- a metabolically active form of folic acid that has been used in cancer therapy to protect normal cells against methotrexate
cit·rul·line ['si-trə-,lēn] -n
- a crystalline amino acid C 6H 13N 3O 3formed esp. as an intermediate in the conversion of ornithine to arginine
cit·rus ['si-trəs] -n, adj
- any of a group of often thorny trees and shrubs ( Citrusand related genera) of the rue family grown in warm regions for their edible fruit (as the orange or lemon) with firm usu. thick rind and pulpy flesh
- the fruit
citrus canker -n
- a destructive disease of citrus caused by a bacterium ( Xanthomonas axonopodis citrisyn. X. campestris citri) that produces lesions on the leaves, twigs, and fruits
citrus red mite -n
- a relatively large mite ( Panonychus citri) that is a destructive pest on the foliage of citrus
cit·tern ['si-tərn] -n
- a Renaissance stringed instrument like a guitar with a flat pear-shaped body
city ['si-tē] -n
- an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village
- an incorporated British town usu. of major size or importance having the status of an episcopal see
- the financial district of London
- the influential financial interests of the British economy
- a usu. large or important municipality in the U.S. governed under a charter granted by the state
- an incorporated municipal unit of the highest class in Canada
- city-state
- the people of a city
- a thing, event, or situation that is strongly characterized by a specified quintessential feature or quality
- the movie was shoot-out city
city clerk -n
- a public officer charged with recording the official proceedings and vital statistics of a city
city council -n
- the legislative body of a city
city editor -n
- a newspaper editor usu. in charge of local news and staff assignments
city father -n
- a member (as an alderman or councilman) of the governing body of a city
city hall -n
- the chief administrative building of a city
- a municipal government
- city officialdom or bureaucracy
- you can't fight city hall
city manager -n
- an official employed by an elected council to direct the administration of a city government
city planning -n
- the drawing up of an organized arrangement (as of streets, parks, and business and residential areas) of a city
city room -n
- the department where local news is handled in a newspaper editorial office
city·scape ['si-tē-,skāp] -n
- a city viewed as a scene
- an artistic representation of a city
- an urban environment
- a cityscape cluttered with factories
city slicker -n
- slicker
citystate ['si-tē-,stāt also -'stāt] -n
- an autonomous state consisting of a city and surrounding territory
city·wide ['si-tē-,wīd] -adj
- including or involving all parts of a city
civ -abbr
- civil; civilian; civilization
civ·et ['si-vət] -n
- any of various Old World carnivorous viverrid mammals with long bodies, short legs, and a usu. long tail
- a thick yellowish musky-odored substance found in a sac near the anus of the civet (esp. genera Civettictis, Viverra,and Viverricula) and used in perfume
civet cat -n
- civet
- ringtail
- any of several small spotted skunks (genus Spilogale) of western No. America
civ·ic ['si-vik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a citizen, a city, citizenship, or community affairs
civ·icmind·ed [,si-vik-'mīn-dəd] -adj, n
- disposed to look after civic needs and interests
civ·ics ['si-viks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens
civ·il ['si-vəl] -adj
- of or relating to citizens
- of or relating to the state or its citizenry
- civilized
- adequate in courtesy and politeness : mannerly
- of, relating to, or based on civil law
- relating to private rights and to remedies sought by action or suit distinct from criminal proceedings
- established by law
- of, relating to, or involving the general public, their activities, needs, or ways, or civic affairs as distinguished from special (as military or religious) affairs
- based on the mean sun and legally recognized for use in ordinary affairs
civil death -n
- the status of a living person equivalent in its legal consequences to natural death
- deprivation of civil rights
civil defense -n
- the system of protective measures and emergency relief activities conducted by civilians in case of hostile attack, sabotage, or natural disaster
civil disobedience -n
- refusal to obey governmental demands or commands esp. as a nonviolent and usu. collective means of forcing concessions from the government
civil engineer -n
- an engineer whose training or occupation is in the design and construction esp. of public works (as roads or harbors)
ci·vil·ian [sə-'vil-yən also -'vi-yən] -n, adj
- a specialist in Roman or modern civil law
- one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force
- outsider
ci·vil·ian·ize [-yə-,nīz] -vt, n
- to convert from military to civilian status or control
civ·i·li·sa·tion [,si-və-lə-'zā-shən] -n, adj
(variant of civilization)
- a relatively high level of cultural and technological development
- the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attained
- the culture characteristic of a particular time or place
- the process of becoming civilized
- refinement of thought, manners, or taste
- a situation of urban comfort
ci·vil·i·ty [sə-'vi-lə-tē] -n
- training in the humanities
- civilized conduct
- courtesy, politeness
- a polite act or expression
civ·i·li·za·tion [,si-və-lə-'zā-shən] -n, adj
- a relatively high level of cultural and technological development
- the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attained
- the culture characteristic of a particular time or place
- the process of becoming civilized
- refinement of thought, manners, or taste
- a situation of urban comfort
civ·i·lize ['si-və-,līz] -vb, n
- to cause to develop out of a primitive state
- to bring to a technically advanced and rationally ordered stage of cultural development
- educate, refine
- socialize
- to acquire the customs and amenities of a civil community
civilized -adj
- characteristic of a state of civilization
- characterized by taste, refinement, or restraint
civil law -n
- Roman law esp. as set forth in the Justinian code
- the body of private law developed from Roman law and used in Louisiana and in many countries outside the English-speaking world
- the law established by a nation or state for its own jurisdiction
- the law of civil or private rights
civil liberty -n, n or adj
- freedom from arbitrary governmental interference (as with the right of free speech) specif. by denial of governmental power and in the U.S. esp. as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights usu. used in pl.
civ·il·ly ['si-və(l)-lē] -adv
- in terms of civil rights, law, or matters
- in a civil manner : politely
civil marriage -n
- a marriage performed by a magistrate
civil rights -n pl
- the nonpolitical rights of a citizen
- the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress
civil servant -n
- a member of a civil service
- a member of the administrative staff of an international agency
civil service -n
- the administrative service of a government or international agency exclusive of the armed forces
- one in which appointments are determined by competitive examination
civil union -n
- the legal status that ensures to same-sex couples specified rights and responsibilities of married couples
civil war -n
- a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country
Civ·i·tan ['si-və-,tan] -n
- a member of a major national and international service club
civ·vy ['si-vē] -n
- civilian clothes as distinguished from a particular uniform (as of the military)
- civilian
civvy street -n
- civilian life
CIWS -abbr
- close-in weapons system