Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter S - Page 129

Spherograph (n.) An instrument for facilitating the practical use of spherics in navigation and astronomy, being constructed of two cardboards containing various circles, and turning upon each other in such a manner that any possible spherical triangle may be readily found, and the measures of the parts read off by inspection.

Spheroid (n.) A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical; esp., a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about one of its axes.

Spheroidal (a.) Having the form of a spheroid.

Spheroidic (a.) Alt. of Spheroidical

Spheroidical (a.) See Spheroidal.

Spheroidicity (n.) Alt. of Spheroidity

Spheroidity (n.) The quality or state of being spheroidal.

Spheromere (n.) Any one of the several symmetrical segments arranged around the central axis and composing the body of a radiate anmal.

Spherometer (n.) An instrument for measuring the curvature of spherical surface, as of lenses for telescope, etc.

Spherosiderite (n.) Siderite occuring in spheroidal masses.

Spherosome (n.) The body wall of any radiate animal.

Spherulate (a.) Covered or set with spherules; having one or more rows of spherules, or minute tubercles.

Spherule (n.) A little sphere or spherical body; as, quicksilver, when poured upon a plane, divides itself into a great number of minute spherules.

Spherulite (n.) A minute spherical crystalline body having a radiated structure, observed in some vitreous volcanic rocks, as obsidian and pearlstone.

Spherulitic (a.) Of or pertaining to a spherulite; characterized by the presence of spherulites.

Sphery (a.) Round; spherical; starlike.

Sphery (a.) Of or pertaining to the spheres.

Sphex (n.) Any one of numerous species of sand wasps of the genus Sphex and allied genera. These wasps have the abdomen attached to the thorax by a slender pedicel. See Illust. of Sand wasp, under Sand.

Sphigmometer (n.) See Sphygmometer.

Sphincter (n.) A muscle which surrounds, and by its contraction tends to close, a natural opening; as, the sphincter of the bladder.

Sphincter (a.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sphincter; as, a sphincter muscle.

Sphingid (n.) A sphinx.

Sphingid (a.) Of or pertaining to a sphinx, or the family Sphingidae.

Sphinx (n.) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion.

Sphinx (n.) On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman.

Sphinx (n.) Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.

Sphinx (n.) Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidae; -- called also hawk moth.

Sphinx (n.) The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx).

Sphragide (n.) Lemnian earth.

Sphragistics (n.) The science of seals, their history, age, distinctions, etc., esp. as verifying the age and genuiness of documents.

Sphrigosis (n.) A condition of vegetation in which there is too abundant growth of the stem and leaves, accompanied by deficiency of flowers and fruit.

Sphygmic (a.) Of or pertaining to the pulse.

Sphygmogram (n.) A tracing, called a pulse tracing, consisting of a series of curves corresponding with the beats of the heart, obtained by the application of the sphygmograph.

Sphygmograph (n.) An instrument which, when applied over an artery, indicates graphically the movements or character of the pulse. See Sphygmogram.

Sphygmographic (a.) Relating to, or produced by, a sphygmograph; as, a sphygmographic tracing.

Sphygmometer (n.) An instrument for measuring the strength of the pulse beat; a sphygmograph.

Sphygmophone (n.) An electrical instrument for determining by the ear the rhythm of the pulse of a person at a distance.

Sphygmoscope (n.) Same as Sphygmograph.

Sphyraenoid (a.) Of or pertaining to the Sphyraenidae, a family of marine fishes including the barracudas.

Spial (n.) A spy; a scout.

Spicae (pl. ) of Spica

Spica (n.) A kind of bandage passing, by successive turns and crosses, from an extremity to the trunk; -- so called from its resemblance to a spike of a barley.

Spica (n.) A star of the first magnitude situated in the constellation Virgo.

Spicate (a.) Alt. of Spicated

Spicated (a.) Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes.

Spiccato (a.) Detached; separated; -- a term indicating that every note is to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner.

Spice (n.) Species; kind.

Spice (n.) A vegetable production of many kinds, fragrant or aromatic and pungent to the taste, as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, ginger, cloves, etc., which are used in cookery and to flavor sauces, pickles, etc.

Spice (n.) Figuratively, that which enriches or alters the quality of a thing in a small degree, as spice alters the taste of food; that which gives zest or pungency; a slight flavoring; a relish; hence, a small quantity or admixture; a sprinkling; as, a spice of mischief.

Spiced (imp. & p. p.) of Spice

Spicing (p. p. & vb. n.) of Spice

Spice (v. t.) To season with spice, or as with spice; to mix aromatic or pungent substances with; to flavor; to season; as, to spice wine; to spice one's words with wit.

Spice (v. t.) To fill or impregnate with the odor of spices.

Spice (v. t.) To render nice or dainty; hence, to render scrupulous.

Spicebush (n.) Spicewood.

Spicenut () A small crisp cake, highly spiced.

Spicer (n.) One who seasons with spice.

Spicer (n.) One who deals in spice.

Spicery (n.) Spices, in general.

Spicery (n.) A repository of spices.

Spicewood (n.) An American shrub (Lindera Benzoin), the bark of which has a spicy taste and odor; -- called also Benjamin, wild allspice, and fever bush.

Spiciferous (a.) Bearing ears, or spikes; spicate.

Spiciform (a.) Spike-shaped.

Spicily (adv.) In a spicy manner.

Spiciness (n.) The quality or state of being spicy.

Spick (n.) A spike or nail.

Spicknel (n.) An umbelliferous herb (Meum Athamanticum) having finely divided leaves, common in Europe; -- called also baldmoney, mew, and bearwort.

Spicose (a.) Having spikes, or ears, like corn spikes.

Spicosity (n.) The state of having, or being full of, ears like corn.

Spicous (a.) See Spicose.

Spiculae (pl. ) of Spicula

Spicula (n.) A little spike; a spikelet.

Spicula (n.) A pointed fleshy appendage.

Spicular (a.) Resembling a dart; having sharp points.

Spiculate (a.) Covered with, or having, spicules.

Spiculate (a.) Covered with minute spiculae, or pointed fleshy appendages; divided into small spikelets.

Spiculate (v. t.) To sharpen to a point.

Spicule (n.) A minute, slender granule, or point.

Spicule (n.) Same as Spicula.

Spicule (n.) Any small calcareous or siliceous body found in the tissues of various invertebrate animals, especially in sponges and in most Alcyonaria.

Spiculiform (a.) Having the shape of a spicule.

Spiculigenous (a.) Producing or containing spicules.

Spiculispongiae (n. pl.) A division of sponges including those which have independent siliceous spicules.

Spicula (pl. ) of Spiculum

Spiculum (n.) Same as Spicule.

Spicy (superl.) Flavored with, or containing, spice or spices; fragrant; aromatic; as, spicy breezes.

Spicy (superl.) Producing, or abounding with, spices.

Spicy (superl.) Fig.: Piquant; racy; as, a spicy debate.

Spider (n.) Any one of numerous species of arachnids comprising the order Araneina. Spiders have the mandibles converted into poison fangs, or falcers. The abdomen is large and not segmented, with two or three pairs of spinnerets near the end, by means of which they spin threads of silk to form cocoons, or nests, to protect their eggs and young. Many species spin also complex webs to entrap the insects upon which they prey. The eyes are usually eight in number (rarely six), and are situated on the back of the cephalothorax. See Illust. under Araneina.

Spider (n.) Any one of various other arachnids resembling the true spiders, especially certain mites, as the red spider (see under Red).

Spider (n.) An iron pan with a long handle, used as a kitchen utensil in frying food. Originally, it had long legs, and was used over coals on the hearth.

Spider (n.) A trevet to support pans or pots over a fire.

Spider (n.) A skeleton, or frame, having radiating arms or members, often connected by crosspieces; as, a casting forming the hub and spokes to which the rim of a fly wheel or large gear is bolted; the body of a piston head; a frame for strengthening a core or mold for a casting, etc.

Spidered (a.) Infested by spiders; cobwebbed.

Spiderlike (a.) Like a spider.

Spider web () Alt. of Spider's web

Spider's web () The silken web which is formed by most kinds of spiders, particularly the web spun to entrap their prey. See Geometric spider, Triangle spider, under Geometric, and Triangle.

Spiderwort (n.) An American endogenous plant (Tradescantia Virginica), with long linear leaves and ephemeral blue flowers. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus.

Spied () imp. & p. p. of Spy.

Spiegeleisen (n.) See Spiegel iron.

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