a graphic description or representation
A small introductory gallery shows 18th- and 19th-century electrostatic apparatus, including a globe machine probably designed by Benjamin Franklin, several leyden jars for
storing electric charges, and a twin-plate generator of about 1800 in an active tableau of a parlor game called the electric kiss.
Tackle(verb)
to start work on vigorously
After getting detailed instructions from their professor, the students went to the library to tackle their research project.
Tactile(adjective)
discernible by touch
The octopus has two separate areas for storage in its brain: one for visual memories, the other for tactile memories.
Tagger(noun)
one who makes an inscription or drawing made on some public surface such as a rock or wall
In the graffiti wars in Philadelphia, the city is winning. Taggers are turning their talents to painting murals -- 1,200 to date -- which not only decorate, but revitalize these urban neighborhoods.
Tailored(adjective)
made to individual specifications
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, writing for the majority, ejected the arguments made by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush that affirmative action policies should be voided, noting that the U.S. Constitution "does not prohibit the law school's narrowly tailored use of race in admissions."
Tamper(verb)
to interfere so as to weaken or change for the worse--used with “with”.
Jackson and Cleveland pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and agreed to testify.
Tangle(noun)
a complicated situation or problem
That way we avoid all those political tangles that have nothing to do with degrees of difference between languages.
Tee totaling(adjective)
characterized as having complete abstinence from alcoholic drinks
"We trust state and local officials," Peters said, suggesting it doesn't make sense to promote pedestrian safety for South Dakota's wide-open spaces or drunken-driving programs in largely tee totaling Utah.
Temperate(adjective)
used to describe a climate that has a range of temperatures within moderate limits
Situated close to the Pacific Ocean, San Diego has a temperate climate with temperatures ranging from 60 - 75 degrees F.
Tempting(adjective)
causing craving or desire to arise
It is tempting to think that if language evolved by gradual Darwinian natural selection, we must be able to find some precursor of it in our closest relatives, the chimpanzees.
Tendency(noun)
a way that somebody or something typically behaves or is likely to react or behave
Some people with mental disorders have a tendency toward self-persecution, selfsabotage, and even violence.
Tender(noun)
something offered, as in money
Gold and silver were declared as legal tender, and as such were used for all payments.
Tentative(adjective)
likely to have many later changes before it becomes final and complete
Today, we believe science is testable, explanatory, and tentative.
Terrify(verb)
to make somebody feel very frightened or alarmed
They represent a terrifying and destructive force that kills more than two out of every five Americans.
Textbook example (noun phrase)
one by which others are compared; a standard of comparison
Hawaii’s volcanoes have, therefore, become the textbook example of non-explosive volcanism, and the term "Hawaiian type" is used to refer to such eruptions.
Theatrical(adjective)
full of exaggerated or false emotion
Starting with the Retablo de Maese, Pedro Cervantes, demonstrates a mastery of theatrical illusion which, absent from part one, becomes another narrative function in part two.
Theocracy(noun)
government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided
The Puritan government of Massachusetts in the 1600's and 1700's has been called a theocracy.
Theological(adjective)
of, or relating to the study of God and his relation to the world
His continued skepticism, however, shaped his subsequent theological studies at Crosier Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, and at Boston University, where he received a doctorate in systematic theology in 1955.
Theoretical(adjective)
about, involving, or based on a belief used as the basis for action
The causes of crime can be explained through several theoretical perspectives.
Therapists(adjective)
somebody trained to treat disease, disorders, or injuries, especially somebody who uses methods other than drugs and surgery
According to therapists who specialize in Multiple Personality Disorder, the host (the victim/survivor's basic personality) is not necessarily aware of the existence of these alters.
Thermal(noun)
a rising body of warm air
When a hang-glider gets caught in a thermal, his aircraft will spiral upward for hundreds of feet.
Thermonuclear(adjective)
of or relating to the transformations in the nucleus of atoms of low atomic weight as hydrogen that require a very high temperature for their inception as in the hydrogen bomb
or in the sun.
Fusion produces the energy of the sun and other stars and the explosive force of thermonuclear weapons.
Thesis(noun)
a proposition advanced as an argument
The thesis of a reading passage determines the structure, so the structure, once a reader begins to sense it, can lead him to the thesis.
Thievery(noun)
stealing something from a person or place
In Roman mythology, Mercury is the god of commerce, travel and thievery, the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the Gods.
Thoroughfare(noun)
a course affording passage from one place to another
Situated close to busy thoroughfares, McDonald’s make its profits on high volume and quick turnover.
Thrall(noun)
to make a slave of
Twenty thousand years ago, the Earth was held in thrall by a relentless ice age.
Threats(noun)
the expression of a deliberate intention to cause harm or pain
If such a multi-day sequence could be forecast, valuable lead time might be gained on flooding threats.
Threshold(noun)
a level, point, or value above which something is true or will take place and below which it is not or will not.Supporters and opponents alike agree the income threshold needs to be raised.
Thrive(verb)
to fare well; to grow rapidly and luxuriantly
Many businesses thrived while William Jefferson Clinton was President of the United
States.
Tide(noun)
something suggestive of running water
When it finally reaches the coast, a tsunami may appear as a rapidly rising or falling tide, a series of breaking waves, or even a bore.
Tier(noun)
a row, rank, or layer of articles; especially: one of two or more rows, levels, or ranks arranged one above another; a group of political or geographical divisions that form a row across the map.
The middle tier is serious candidates who have yet to catch fire: Joe Lieberman (despite high name recognition in the polls), John Edwards (despite financial support from his fellow trial lawyers and some creative speeches about specific issues) and Bob Graham.
Tilt(verb)
to slant or cause something to slant
Unstable areas may sometimes be identified by trees or telephone poles tilted at odd angles, or by curved tree trunks.
Tip(verb)
to move from true vertical or horizontal; to shift the balance of power or influence
After one of several indecisive battles, probably in 1790, the balance was suddenly tipped in favor of Kamehameha when a natural disaster struck.
Tissue(noun)
organic body material in animals and plants made up of large numbers of cells that are similar in form and function and their related intercellular substances.
They enter the heart of the palms and feed on the tender tissues within.
Titter(noun)
the act of laughing in a nervous, affected, or partly suppressed manner
The aim of this site is to help you avoid low grades, lost employment opportunities, lost business, and titters of amusement at the way you write or speak.
Token(noun)
something that represents, expresses, or is a symbol of something else
In several famous and controversial demonstrations, chimpanzees have been taught some hand signs based on American Sign Language, to manipulate colored switches or
tokens, and to understand some spoken commands.
Tolerance(noun)
the acceptance of the differing views of other people, for example, in religious or political matters, and fairness toward the people who hold these different views
The Constitution guarantees religious tolerance, which is why many people decided to settle in America.
Toll(noun)
a grievous or ruinous price–especially: cost in life or health
By that time, she said, age and an assassination attempt had taken its toll on the man who once proclaimed, ''Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.'
Ton(noun)
unit of weight equivalent to 2,000 pounds
Some of the wagons, on which the early pioneers depended, were capable of carrying up to eight tons of supplies.
Topography(noun)
the features on the surface of a particular area of land
Things such as wind, temperature, relative humidity, topography, and fuel levels all need to be taken into account.
Torch(noun)
a stick of wood dipped in wax or with one end wrapped in combustible material, set on fire and carried, especially in the past, as a source of light.
Forestry officials used drip torches to start the fire, avoiding large logs on the ground that was home to small animals.
Torrential(adjective)
relating to large amounts of liquids such as water or lava
Sometimes a slow moving sequence of mesoscale convective systems will extend over several days, causing torrential rains over a large area.
Torture(noun)
excruciating punishment; the act of subjecting another to extreme physical cruelty, as in punishing
The Sun Dance was a type of self torture which included a loss of consciousness.
Totality(noun)
the state of being complete or total
At its worst, it could cause some to disagree with the totality of the comments.
Tout(verb)
to praise or recommend somebody or something enthusiastically
Jones and Dewey are respectively touted as prominent west coast and east coast psychics.
Toxin(noun)
a poison produced by a living organism, especially bacteria, capable of causing disease and also of stimulating the production within the body of antibodies to counter their effects
General causes for primary brain cancer can include a prior head injury, infections, exposure to chemical toxins such as insecticides and fungicides and exposure to radiation such as microwave or radio frequencies.
Tract(noun)
system of body parts or organs that collectively serve some purpose
Vomiting and diarrhea are dangerous and can cause damage to the digestive tract.
Traction(noun)
a pulling force exerted on something
The developing world is slower to catch on, but a movement by astronomers and geoscientists in South Africa to establish a National Working Group to assess NEO impact risk and mitigation is gaining traction.
Trait(noun)
a distinctive element
A unique trait to the Sperm Whale is that it can dive down deep into the ocean for long periods of time.
Trance(noun)
a state in which somebody is dazed or stunned or in some other way unaware of the environment and unable to respond to stimuli
Specialists generally believe that people with Multiple Personality Disorder may experience any of the following: depression, mood swings, suicidal tendencies, sleep disorders, headaches, amnesia, time loss, trances, and 'out of body experiences.
Transform(verb)
to change people or things completely, especially improving their appearance or usefulness
The pupae will require another 1.5 to 2 months before it transforms into an adult and becomes a threat to the palms.
Transplantation(noun)
the act of moving something from one place into another
The transplantation of a pig heart into a human body revolutionized modern surgical medicine.
Trap(verb)
to prevent air, gas, heat, or a fluid from escaping
Gases trapped in ice cores show the dramatic impact that human activities have had on the planet since the Industrial Revolution.
Trauma(noun)
an extremely distressing experience that causes severe emotional shock and may have long lasting psychological effects
Since the 1970s, therapists who believe in the reality of Multiple Personality Disorder generally believe it to be caused by very severe abuse during childhood violence so extreme that the child cannot absorb the trauma in its entirety.
Tread(verb)
to step or walk on or over
West Africa promised a peace force of at least 5,000 troops for Liberia if warring sides halt fighting, and France suggested Saturday it was open to contributing troops _ stepping in where the United States, has so far declined to tread.
Treadmill(noun)
an automatic machine allowing runners to run in place
Because of the intense cold and snow, Minnesota long distance runners often use treadmills during the winter.
Treaty(noun)
a formal contract or agreement negotiated between countries or other political entities
They have also identified spike representing fallout from stepped up atmospheric testing that took place just prior to the 1963 Test Ban Treaty, which allowed for underground tests only.
Trek(verb)
to make one's way arduously
The students had been missing since Saturday, when they trekked into the woods after visiting the telescope.
Tremendous(adjective)
extremely large, powerful, or great
The fusion process released tremendous amounts of heat and light which could then combat the compressing force of gravity; eventually, the two forces reached equilibrium.
Trend(noun)
a general tendency, movement, or direction
A growing trend toward emphasis on neural aspects of various cognitive processes has spawned what is referred to as the Cognitive Neuropsychology track, with students studying jointly in cognitive and in clinical neuropsychology.
Tribe(noun)
a group of people sharing a common ancestry
Sitting Bull and the Sioux realized they could not defeat the army alone, and they must stand with other tribes.
Tributary(noun)
channeling material, supplies, into something more inclusive
Many tributaries flow into the Mississippi River, making it one of the longest rivers in the world.
Trigger(verb)
to set something off, bring something about, or make something happen
Slab and other avalanches can be hard or soft, wet or dry and can be triggered naturally or artificially.
Triumph(verb)
to conquer or win a victory over, as in battle or a competition
During the Civil War, the Union Army triumphed over the Confederate Army in the bloodiest battle ever fought in
American History.
Trough(noun)
a long shallow often v-shaped receptacle for the drinking water or feed of domestic animals
In the 17th century, the Conestoga wagon had a trough attached to its rear end, so the horses could feed.
Trounce(verb)
to render totally ineffective by decisive defeat
The San Antonio Spurs trounced the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs.
Tsunami(noun)
a long high sea wave caused by an earthquake on the ocean floor
Tsunamis are unlike wind generated waves, which many of us may have observed on a local lake or at a coastal beach, in that they are characterized as shallow water waves, with long periods and wave lengths.
Turmoil(noun)
a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion
To escape the escalating turmoil, Church headquarters moved from New York to Ohio, then to Missouri, and later to Illinois.
Twilight(noun)
the period between afternoon and nighttime
It recommended that drivers turn on their headlights at the first sign of twilight.
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