EC -abbr
- European Community; European Communities
ec·cen·tric [ik-'sen-trik, ek-] -adj, adv
- deviating from an established or usual pattern or style
- deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct esp. in odd or whimsical ways
- deviating from a circular path
- elliptical
- located elsewhere than at the geometrical center
- having the axis or support so located
eccentric -n
- a mechanical device consisting of an eccentric disk communicating its motion to a rod so as to produce reciprocating motion
- an eccentric person
ec·cen·tric·i·ty [,ek-(,)sen-'tri-sə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being eccentric
- deviation from an established pattern or norm
- odd or whimsical behavior
- 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
- 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
- the escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured blood vessels
eccl -abbr
- ecclesiastic; ecclesiastical
Eccles -abbr
- Ecclesiastes
ecclesi- -comb form
- church
ec·cle·si·al [i-'klē-zē-əl, e-'klē-] -adj
- of or relating to a church
Ec·cle·si·as·tes [i-,klē-zē-'as-(,)tēz, e-,klē-] -n
- a book of wisdom literature in canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture
ec·cle·si·as·tic [-'as-tik] -adj
- ecclesiastical
ecclesiastic -n
- clergyman
ec·cle·si·as·ti·cal [-ti-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a church esp. as an established institution
- suitable for use in a church
ec·cle·si·as·ti·cism [-tə-,si-zəm] -n
- excessive attachment to ecclesiastical forms and practices
Ec·cle·si·as·ti·cus [-ti-kəs] -n
- 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
- the study of church architecture and adornment
- theological doctrine relating to the church
Ecclus -abbr
- Ecclesiasticus
ec·crine gland ['e-krən-, -,krīn-, -,krēn-] -n
- 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
- stripteaser
ec·dy·sis ['ek-də-səs] -n
- the act of molting or shedding an outer cuticular layer
ec·dy·sone ['ek-də-,sōn] -n
- 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
- the establishment of a plant or animal in a new habitat
ECG -abbr
- electrocardiogram
echelle [ā-'shel] -n
- a diffraction grating made by ruling a plane metallic mirror with lines having a relatively wide spacing
ech·e·lon ['e-shə-,län] -n
- 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
- a formation of units or individuals resembling such an echelon
- 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
- any of several military units in echelon formation
- any unit or group acting in a disciplined or organized manner
- served in a combat echelon
- one of a series of levels or grades in an organization or field of activity
- involved employees at every echelon
- a group of individuals at a particular level or grade in an organization
- the upper echelon s of the bureaucracy
echelon -vt
- to form or arrange in an echelon
- to take position in an echelon
ech·e·ve·ria [,e-chə-və-'rē-ə] -n
- 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
- 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
- a related mammal ( Zaglossus bruijni) of New Guinea having a longer snout and shorter spines
echin- -comb form
- prickle
- sea urchin
ech·i·na·cea [,e-ki-'nā-sē-ə, -sh(ē-)ə] -n
- 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
- any of these herbs
echi·no·coc·co·sis [i-,kī-nə-kä-'kō-səs] -n
- infestation with or disease caused by an echinococcus
echi·no·coc·cus [i-,kī-nə-'kä-kəs] -n
- 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
- 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
- sea urchin
echi·nus [i-'kī-nəs] -n
- sea urchin
- the rounded molding that lies directly beneath the abacus in the capital of a column in the Greek Doric order
- a similar member in other orders
echi·uroid [,e-ki-'yu̇r-,ȯid] -n
- 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
- the repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound waves
- the sound due to such reflection
- a repetition or imitation of another : reflection
- repercussion, result
- trace, vestige
- response
- one who closely imitates or repeats another's words, ideas, or acts
- a soft repetition of a musical phrase
- the repetition of a received radio signal due esp. to reflection of part of the wave from an ionized layer of the atmosphere
- the reflection of transmitted radar signals by an object
- the visual indication of this reflection on a radarscope
- to resound with echoes
- to produce an echo
- repeat, imitate
- children echo ing their teacher's words
- to restate in support or agreement
- his successor echo ed his opinion
- to be reminiscent of : evoke
- music that echo es an earlier time
- to send back (a sound) by the reflection of sound waves
Echo -n
- a nymph in Greek mythology who pines away for love of Narcissus until nothing is left of her but her voice
- a communications code word for the letter e
echo·car·dio·gram [,e-kō-'kär-dē-ə-,gram] -n
- a visual record made by echocardiography
- the procedure for producing such a record
echo·car·di·og·ra·phy [-,kär-dē-'ä-grə-fē] -n, adj
- the use of ultrasound to examine the structure and functioning of the heart for abnormalities and disease
echo chamber -n
- a room with sound-reflecting walls used for producing hollow or echoing sound effects
echo·ic [ə-'kō-ik, e-] -adj
- formed in imitation of some natural sound : onomatopoeic
- of or relating to an echo
echo·la·lia [,e-kō-'lā-lē-ə] -n, adj
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- true, genuine
eclair [ē-'kler, ā-, e-, ə-; 'ē-,, 'ā-,, 'e-,] -n
- a usu. chocolate-frosted oblong pastry filled with whipped cream or custard
eclair·cis·se·ment [ā-kler-sēs-(ə-)mäⁿ] -n
- a clearing up of something obscure : enlightenment
eclamp·sia [i-'klam(p)-sē-ə] -n, adj
- a convulsive state
- an attack of convulsions during pregnancy or parturition
eclat [ā-'klä, 'ā-,] -n
- ostentatious display : publicity
- dazzling effect : brilliance
- brilliant or conspicuous success
- praise, applause
eclec·tic [e-'klek-tik, i-] -adj, adv
- selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles
- composed of elements drawn from various sources
- heterogeneous
eclectic -n
- one who uses an eclectic method or approach
eclec·ti·cism [-'klek-tə-,si-zəm] -n
- the theory or practice of an eclectic method
eclipse [i-'klips] -n
- the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another
- the passing into the shadow of a celestial body
- a falling into obscurity or decline
- the state of being eclipsed
- his reputation has fallen into eclipse
- the state of being in eclipse plumage
- : to cause an eclipse of: as
- obscure, darken
- to reduce in importance or repute
- surpass
- her score eclipsed the old record
eclipse plumage -n
- comparatively dull plumage that is usu. of seasonal occurrence in birds exhibiting a distinct breeding plumage
eclip·tic [i-'klip-tik] -adj
- of or relating to the ecliptic or an eclipse
ecliptic -n
- 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
- a poem in which shepherds converse
eclo·sion [i-'klō-zhən] -n
- the act of emerging from the pupal case or hatching from the egg
ECM -abbr
- electronic countermeasure
- European Common Market
eco- -comb form
- habitat or environment
- ecological or environmental
eco·ca·tas·tro·phe [,ē-(,)kō-kə-'tas-trə-fē, ,e-(,)kō-] -n
- 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
- 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
- marked by or showing concern for the environment
eco·fem·i·nism [,ē-kō-'fe-mə-,ni-zəm, ,e-kō-] -n, n or adj
- a movement or theory that applies feminist principles and ideas to ecological issues
ecol -abbr
- ecological; ecology
ecol·o·gy [i-'kä-lə-jē, e-] -n, adj, adv
- a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
- the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment
- human ecology
- environment, climate
- an often delicate or intricate system or complex
ecom·merce ['ē-,kä-(,)mərs] -n
- commerce conducted via the Internet
econ -abbr
- economics; economist; economy
econo·box [i-'kä-nō-,bäks, ē-] -n
- a small economical car
econo·met·rics [i-,kä-nə-'me-triks, ē-,kä-] -n pl but sing in constr, adj, adv, n
- the application of statistical methods to the study of economic data and problems
eco·nom·ic [,e-kə-'nä-mik, ,ē-kə-] -adj
- of or relating to a household or its management
- economical
- of or relating to economics
- of, relating to, or based on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
- of or relating to an economy
- a group of economic advisers
- having practical or industrial significance or uses : affecting material resources
- profitable
eco·nom·i·cal [-'nä-mi-kəl] -adj
- economic
- marked by careful, efficient, and prudent use of resources : thrifty
- operating with little waste or at a saving
eco·nom·i·cal·ly [-'nä-mi-k(ə-)lē] -adv
- in an economic or economical manner
economic rent -n
- 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
- a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
- economic theory, principles, or practices
- economic aspect or significance
- the economics of building a new stadium
- economic conditions
econ·o·mise [-,mīz] -vb, n
(variant of economize)
- to practice economy : be frugal
- to use frugally : save
econ·o·mist [i-'kä-nə-mist] -n
- one who practices economy
- a specialist in economics
econ·o·mize [-,mīz] -vb, n
- to practice economy : be frugal
- to use frugally : save
econ·o·my [i-'kä-nə-mē, ə-, ē-] -n
- the management of household or private affairs and esp. expenses
- thrifty and efficient use of material resources : frugality in expenditures
- an instance or a means of economizing : saving
- efficient and concise use of nonmaterial resources (as effort, language, or motion)
- the arrangement or mode of operation of something : organization
- a system esp. of interaction and exchange
- an economy of information
- the structure or conditions of economic life in a country, area, or period
- an economic system
economy -adj
- designed to save money
economy of scale
- 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
- the science of the interrelationships between the physiology of organisms and their environment
eco·sphere ['ē-kō-,sfir, 'e-kō-] -n
- the parts of the universe habitable by living organisms
- biosphere
eco·sys·tem [-,sis-təm] -n
- 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
- sabotage intended to hinder activities that are considered damaging to the environment
- political terrorism intended to damage an enemy's natural environment
eco·tone ['ē-kə-,tōn, 'e-kə-] -n, adj
- a transition area between two adjacent ecological communities
eco·tour [-,tu̇r] -n
- a trip that follows the principles of ecotourism
eco·tour·ism [,ē-kō-'tu̇r-,i-zəm, ,e-kō-] -n
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art
ecru ['e-(,)krü, 'ā-(,)krü] -n, adj
- beige
ec·sta·sy ['ek-stə-sē] -n
- a state of being beyond reason and self-control
- swoon
- a state of overwhelming emotion
- rapturous delight
- trance
- a mystic or prophetic trance
- 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
- of, relating to, or marked by ecstasy
ecstatic -n
- one that is subject to ecstasies
ECT -abbr
- electroconvulsive therapy
ect- -comb form
- outside : external
ec·to·derm ['ek-tə-,dərm] -n, adj
- the outer cellular membrane of a diploblastic animal (as a jellyfish)
- 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)
- a tissue (as neural tissue) derived from this germ layer
ec·to·morph ['ek-tə-,mȯrf] -n
- an ectomorphic individual
ec·to·mor·phic [,ek-tə-'mȯr-fik] -adj
- 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
- 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
- a parasite that lives on the exterior of its host
ec·top·ic [ek-'tä-pik] -adj, adv
- occurring in an abnormal position or in an unusual manner or form
ectopic pregnancy -n
- 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
- the outer relatively rigid granule-free layer of the cytoplasm usu. held to be a gel reversibly convertible to a sol
- a substance held to produce spirit materialization and telekinesis
ec·to·therm ['ek-tə-,thərm] -n, adj
- a cold-blooded animal : poikilotherm
ec·to·tro·phic [,ek-tə-'trō-fik] -adj
- growing in a close web on the surface of the associated root
ecu ['ā-,kyü, ā-kᵫ] -n
- any of various old French units of value
- a coin representing an ecu
- 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
- Ecuador
ec·u·men·i·cal [,e-kyə-'me-ni-kəl, -kyü-] -adj, adv
- worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application
- of, relating to, or representing the whole of a body of churches
- promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation
ec·u·men·i·cal·ism [-'me-ni-kə-,li-zəm] -n
- ecumenism
ecumenical patriarch -n
- 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
- ecumenism
ec·u·me·nic·i·ty [,e-kyə-mə-'ni-sə-tē, -me-, -kyü-] -n
- the quality or state of being drawn close to others through ecumenism
ec·u·men·ics [-'me-niks] -n pl but sing in constr
- 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
- 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
- an inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by redness, itching, and oozing vesicular lesions which become scaly, crusted, or hardened