Xe -symbol

  1. xenon

xe·bec ['zē-,bek, zi-'] -n

  1. a usu. 3-masted Mediterranean sailing ship with long overhanging bow and stern

xen- -comb form

  1. guest : foreigner
    • xeno phobia
  2. that which is not the host
    • xeno graft
  3. strange : foreign
    • xeno lith
  4. not being the host
    • xeno biotic

xe·nia ['zē-nē-ə, -nyə] -n

  1. the effect of genes introduced by pollen esp. on endosperm and embryo development

xe·no·bi·ot·ic [,ze-nō-bī-'ä-tik, ,zē-, -bē-] -n, adj

  1. a chemical compound (as a drug, pesticide, or carcinogen) that is foreign to a living organism

xe·no·di·ag·no·sis [-,dī-ig-'nō-səs] -n, adj

  1. the detection of a parasite (as of humans) by feeding a suitable intermediate host (as an insect) on supposedly infected material (as blood) and later examining the host for the parasite

xe·no·ge·ne·ic [-jə-'nē-ik] -adj

  1. derived from, originating in, or being a member of another species

xe·no·graft ['ze-nə-,graft, 'zē-] -n

  1. a graft of tissue taken from a donor of one species and grafted into a recipient of another species called also heterograft

xe·no·lith ['ze-nə-,lith, 'zē-] -n, adj

  1. a fragment of a rock included in another rock

xe·non ['zē-,nän, 'ze-] -n

  1. a heavy colorless and relatively inert gaseous element that occurs in air as about one part in 20 million and is used esp. in specialized electric lamps (as flashtubes) and in scientific research

xe·no·phile ['ze-nə-,fī(-ə)l, 'zē-] -n

  1. one attracted to foreign things (as styles or people)

xe·no·phobe ['ze-nə-,fōb, 'zē-] -n, adj, adv

  1. one unduly fearful of what is foreign and esp. of people of foreign origin

xe·no·pho·bia [,ze-nə-'fō-bē-ə, ,zē-] -n

  1. fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign

xe·no·trans·plan·ta·tion [,ze-nə-,tran(t)s-,plan-'tā-shən, ,zē-] -n

  1. transplantation of an organ, tissue, or cells between two different species

xe·no·tro·pic [-'trä-pik, -trō-] -adj

  1. replicating or reproducing only in cells other than those of the host species
    • xenotropic viruses

xer- -comb form

  1. dry
    • xer ic
    • xero phyte

Xer ['ek-sər] -n

  1. a member of Generation X

xe·ric ['zir-ik, 'zer-] -adj

  1. characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture
    • a xeric habitat
    • a xeric plant

xeri·scape ['zir-ə-,skāp, 'zer-] -n

  1. a landscaping method developed esp. for arid and semiarid climates that utilizes water-conserving techniques (as the use of drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation)

xe·ro·der·ma pig·men·to·sum [,zir-ə-'dər-mə-,pig-mən-'tō-səm, -,men-] -n

  1. a genetic disorder inherited as a recessive autosomal trait that is caused by a defect in mechanisms that repair DNA mutations (as those caused by ultraviolet light) and is characterized by the development of pigment abnormalities and multiple skin cancers in areas exposed to the sun

xe·rog·ra·phy [zə-'rä-grə-fē] -n, adj, adv

  1. a process for copying graphic matter by the action of light on an electrically charged photoconductive insulating surface in which the latent image is developed with a resinous powder (as toner)
  2. xeroradiography

xe·roph·i·lous [zə-'rä-fə-ləs] -adj

  1. thriving in or tolerant or characteristic of a xeric environment

xe·roph·thal·mia [,zir-,äf-'thal-mē-ə, -,äp-'thal-] -n, adj

  1. a dry thickened lusterless condition of the eyeball resulting esp. from a severe systemic deficiency of vitamin A

xe·ro·phyte ['zir-ə-,fīt] -n, adj

  1. a plant adapted for life and growth with a limited water supply

xe·ro·ra·di·og·ra·phy [,zir-ō-,rā-dē-'ä-grə-fē] -n

  1. radiography used esp. in mammographic screening for breast cancer that produces an image using X-rays in a manner similar to the way an image is produced by light in xerography

xe·ro·ther·mic [,zir-ə-'thər-mik] -adj

  1. characterized by heat and dryness
  2. adapted to or thriving in a hot dry environment

xe·rox ['zir-,äks, 'zē-,räks] -vt

  1. to copy on a xerographic copier
  2. to make (a copy) on a xerographic copier

Xe·rox ['zir-,äks, 'zē-,räks] -trademark

  1. used for a xerographic copier