ETYM AS. beám beam, post, tree, ray of light; akin to OFries. bâm tree, OS. bôm, Dutch boom, Old High Germ. boum, poum, German baum, Icel. bathmr, Goth. bagms and Greek phyma a growth, phynai to become, to be.
1. A column of light (as from a beacon); SYN. beam of light, light beam, ray, ray of light, shaft, shaft of light.
2. A group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation.
3. Breadth amidships.
4. Long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction.
A configuration of radiated energy characterized by rays that are sharply directional and parallel.
ETYM Cf. French courant. Related to Current.
The flow of electric charge through a conductor, or the amount of such flow. Current is measured in amperes. See also ampere, coulomb. Compare volt.
Flow of a body of water or air, or of heat, moving in a definite direction. Ocean currents are fast-flowing currents of seawater generated by the wind or by variations in water density between two areas. They are partly responsible for transferring heat from the equator to the poles and thereby evening out the global heat imbalance. There are three basic types of ocean current: drift currents are broad and slow-moving; stream currents are narrow and swift-moving; and upwelling currents bring cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean bottom.
Stream currents include the Gulf Stream and the Japan (or Kuroshio) Current. Upwelling currents, such as the Gulf of Guinea Current and the Peru (Humboldt) current, provide food for plankton, which in turn supports fish and sea birds. At approximate five-to-eight-year intervals, the Peru Current that runs from the Antarctic up the W coast of South America, turns warm, with heavy rain and rough seas, and has disastrous results (as in 1982–83) for Peruvian wildlife and for the anchovy industry. The phenomenon is called El Nińo (Spanish “the Child”) because it occurs toward Christmas.
1. A flow of electricity through a conductor; SYN. electric current.
2. A steady flow (usually from natural causes); SYN. stream.
The rate of flow of electricity. The unit of the ampere (A) defined as 1 ampere = 1 coulomb per second.
1. A footrace run at top speed
2. A quick run; SYN. sprint.
3. Distinctive and stylish elegance; SYN. elan, flair, panache, style.
4. The act of moving with great haste; SYN. bolt.
5. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code; SYN. dah.
ETYM Old Eng. fresche flood + -et. Related to Fresh.
The occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow; SYN. spate.
1. A hard black form of lignite that takes a brilliant polish and is used in jewellery or ornamentation.
2. An airplane powered by one or more jet engines; SYN. jet plane, jet-propelled plane.
3. The occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid); SYN. squirt, spurt, spirt.
Hard, black variety of lignite, a type of coal. It is cut and polished for use in jewelry and ornaments. Articles made of jet have been found in Bronze Age tombs
ETYM Old Eng. sours, Old Fren. sourse, surse, sorse, French source, from Old Fren. sors, p. p. of Old Fren. sordre, surdre, sourdre.
1. A document (or organization) from which information is obtained.
2. A facility where something is available; SYN. channel.
3. Anything that provides inspiration for later work; SYN. seed, germ.
ETYM Cf. Swed. spruta a squirt, a syringe. Related to Spout.
An opening that allows the passage of liquids or grain.