Concise dictionary of health terms

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The Concise Dictionary of Health Terms serves as a vital reference tool for healthcare professionals, students, researchers, and the general public, aiming to demystify complex medical jargon. By providing clear, succinct definitions, it facilitates better understanding and communication within the multidisciplinary realm of healthcare.

Purpose and Scope[edit | edit source]

The objective of a concise health dictionary is manifold:

Standardization: Ensuring uniformity in the usage and understanding of health terms.
Education: Assisting students and new entrants in the field to familiarize themselves with essential terminologies.
Effective Communication: Bridging the gap between healthcare providers and patients, enabling more transparent communication.
Reference: Serving as a quick reference for professionals to refresh their memory on seldom-used or newly introduced terms.

Features[edit | edit source]

A well-structured Concise Dictionary of Health Terms typically includes:

Alphabetical Listings: Terms are listed in an A-Z format for ease of navigation.
Clear Definitions: Each term is accompanied by a straightforward definition, often supplemented with contextual examples.
Cross-Referencing: Related terms are cross-referenced, guiding readers to delve deeper into specific topics.
Illustrations: Complex terms might be accompanied by diagrams or illustrations to aid in understanding.

Sample Entries[edit | edit source]

To illustrate the dictionary's approach, here are some hypothetical entries:

Angiography: A diagnostic procedure that uses X-ray imaging to view blood vessels. See also: Cardiac catheterization.
Biopsy: A medical test involving the extraction of cells or tissues for examination. See also: Cytology.
Cytology: The study of cells, including their formation, origin, structure, and function.

Evolution and Digital Transition[edit | edit source]

With the rapid advancement in medical science, new terminologies emerge regularly. Hence, periodic updates to such dictionaries are imperative. In recent years, there has been a notable shift from traditional print versions to online platforms, offering features like:

Search Functionalities: Allowing users to find terms more efficiently.
Interactive Content: Embedding multimedia, such as videos or animated diagrams, to provide richer context.
Regular Updates: Ensuring that the dictionary remains current with the latest medical research and findings.

Significance[edit | edit source]

In an era where healthcare information is both a necessity and a challenge due to its volume and complexity, a Concise Dictionary of Health Terms is invaluable. By simplifying medical terminologies, it ensures that health information is accessible to all, promoting better healthcare outcomes and patient engagement.

Concise dictionary of health terms[edit | edit source]

Concise glossary of health terms[edit | edit source]

Abdominal aortic aneurysm - an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta associated with old age and hypertension
Abetalipoproteinemia - a rare inherited disorder of fat metabolism; characterized by severe deficiency of beta lipoproteins and abnormal red blood cells (acanthocytes) and abnormally low cholesterol levels
ability - the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment; possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done
Ability - the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment; possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done
Abstinence - act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite; the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)
Accessibility - the attribute of being easy to meet or deal with; the quality of being at hand when needed
accident - anything that happens by chance without an apparent cause; a mishap; especially one causing injury or death
Ace of spades - the ace in the spade suit; sometimes taken as a portent of death
acetate - a salt or ester of acetic acid; a fabric made from fibers of cellulose acetate
Achondroplasia - an inherited skeletal disorder beginning before birth; cartilage is converted to bone resulting in dwarfism
Acid rain - rain containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions (especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) combine with water
Acquired taste - a preference that is only acquired after considerable experience
Acromegaly - enlargement of bones of hands and feet and face; often accompanied by headache and muscle pain and emotional disturbances; caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the anterior pituitary gland (due to a tumor)
Acrosome - a process at the anterior end of a sperm cell that produces enzymes to facilitate penetration of the egg
Act of God - a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events
activist - advocating or engaged in activism; a militant reformer
Adenitis - inflammation of a gland or lymph node
Adherence - faithful support for a religion or cause or political party; the property of sticking together (as of glue and wood) or the joining of surfaces of different composition
Adipose tissue - a kind of body tissue containing stored fat that serves as a source of energy; it also cushions and insulates vital organs
Admission - the act of admitting someone to enter; an acknowledgment of the truth of something; the fee charged for admission
Adrenaline - a catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress (trade name Adrenalin); stimulates autonomic nerve action
Adulterant - making impure or corrupt by adding extraneous materials; any substance that adulterates (lessens the purity or effectiveness of a substance)
advocate - a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea; a lawyer who pleads cases in court; speak, plead, or argue in favour of; push for something
Aerobics - exercise that increases the need for oxygen
Afterdamp - a toxic mixture of gases (including carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and nitrogen) after an explosion of firedamp in a mine
Aftertaste - an afterimage of a taste
Agent Orange - a herbicide used in the Vietnam War to defoliate forest areas
Aggression - violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked; deliberately unfriendly behavior; the act of initiating hostilities; a disposition to behave aggressively; a feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack
Agility - the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble
Aging - growing old; the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age; acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time
Aid station - (military) a station located near a combat area for giving first aid to the wounded
Air Pollution - pollution of the atmosphere
Airborne - moved or conveyed by or through air
Alarm clock - a clock that wakes sleeper at preset time
Albedo - the ratio of reflected to incident light
Alberta - one of the three prairie provinces in western Canada; rich in oil and natural gas and minerals
alchemy - a pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times; the way two individuals relate to each other
Alcohol abuse - excessive use of alcohol and alcoholic drinks
alderman - a member of a municipal legislative body (as a city council)
Alice Hamilton - United States toxicologist known for her work on industrial poisons (1869 1970)
Alpha fetoprotein - an abnormally large amount of this fetoprotein in the fetus can signal an abnormality of the neural tube (as spina bifida or anencephaly)
alphabetical - arranged in order according to the alphabet; relating to or expressed by a writing system that uses an alphabet
alternative medicine - the practice of medicine without the use of drugs; may involve herbal medicines or self awareness or biofeedback or acupuncture
Altitude sickness - effects (as nosebleed or nausea) of oxygen deficiency in the blood and tissues at high altitudes
Amelia - congenital absence of an arm or leg
Americium - a radioactive transuranic metallic element; discovered by bombarding uranium with helium atoms
Americium - a radioactive transuranic metallic element; discovered by bombarding uranium with helium atoms
Ammonia - a pungent gas compounded of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3); a water solution of ammonia
Amniotic fluid - the serous fluid in which the embryo is suspended inside the amnion
Amniotic sac - thin innermost membranous sac enclosing the developing embryo of higher vertebrates (reptiles, birds and mammals)
Amygdalin - a bitter cyanogenic glucoside extracted from the seeds of apricots and plums and bitter almonds
Anaphrodisiac - tending to diminish sexual desire
anatomy - a detailed analysis; the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals; alternative names for the body of a human being
animal disease - a disease that typically does not affect human beings
Animal fat - any fat obtained from animals
Animal product - a product made from animal material
Anovulation - the absence of ovulation due to immaturity or post maturity or pregnancy or oral contraceptive pills or dysfunction of the ovary
Anthrax - a disease of humans that is not communicable; caused by infection with Bacillus anthracis followed by septicemia; a highly infectious animal disease (especially cattle and sheep); it can be transmitted to people
Anthropometry - measurement and study of the human body and its parts and capacities
Anticipate - be a forerunner of or occur earlier than; realize beforehand; be excited or anxious about; act in advance of; deal with ahead of time; regard something as probable or likely; make a prediction about; tell in advance
Apgar score - an assessment of the physical condition of a newborn infant; involves heart rate and muscle tone and respiratory effort and color and reflex responsiveness
Aphrodisiac - exciting sexual desire; a drug or other agent that stimulates sexual desire
Aplasia - failure of some tissue or organ to develop
Apoplexy - a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain
Apoptosis - a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself; a cell suicide mechanism that enables metazoans to control cell number and eliminate cells that threaten the animal's survival
Appendicitis - inflammation of the vermiform appendix
Appetite - a feeling of craving something
Apprehension - the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); painful expectation; fearful expectation or anticipation; the cognitive condition of someone who understands
Aquifer - underground bed or layer yielding ground water for wells and springs etc
Arteritis - inflammation of an artery
Arthritis - inflammation of a joint or joints
Artificial insemination - the introduction of semen into the oviduct or uterus by some means other than sexual intercourse
artificial intelligence - the branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively
Asbestos - a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
Asbestosis - lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos particles
Asclepius - son of Apollo; a hero and the Roman god of medicine and healing; his daughters were Hygeia and Panacea
Ashtray - a receptacle for the ash from smokers' cigars or cigarettes
Assisted suicide - suicide of a terminally ill person that involves an assistant who serves to make dying as painless and dignified as possible
Associationism - (psychology) a theory that association is the basic principle of mental activity
Asterisk - a star shaped character * used in printing; mark with an asterisk
Astragalus - large genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs of north temperate regions; largest genus in the family Leguminosae; the bone in the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to form the ankle joint
Astringent - tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue; sour or bitter in taste; a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals
Asynergy - absence of coordination of organs or body parts that usually work together harmoniously
Asystole - absence of systole; failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to oxygen lack and eventually to death
Atherosclerosis - a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls
Athletic training - the course of practice and exercise and diet undertaken by an athlete
Austria Hungary - a geographical area in central and eastern Europe; broken into separate countries at the end of World War I
Autoimmune disease - any of a large group of diseases characterized by abnormal functioning of the immune system that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against your own tissues
Automatism - any reaction that occurs automatically without conscious thought or reflection (especially the undirected behavior seen in psychomotor epilepsy)
Autopsy - an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease; perform an autopsy on a dead body; do a post mortem
aviation - the art of operating aircraft; the operation of aircraft to provide transportation; the aggregation of a country's military aircraft; travel via aircraft
Babysitting - the work of a baby sitter; caring for children when their parents are not home
Balanitis - inflammation of the head of the penis
bandage - a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body; dress by covering or binding; wrap around with something so as to cover or enclose
Bangalore - an industrial city in south central India (west of Chennai)
Basal body temperature - body temperature in the morning before rising or moving about or eating anything
Base rate - the interest rate set by the Bank of England for lending to other banks
Bath chair - a wheelchair usually pushed by an attendant, as at a spa
Bedridden - confined to bed (by illness)
Bedroom - a room used primarily for sleeping
beekeeping - the cultivation of bees on a commercial scale for the production of honey
Belgium - a monarchy in northwestern Europe; headquarters for the European Union and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Beloved - dearly loved; a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
Benadryl - antihistamine (trade name Benadryl) used to treat allergic reactions involving the nasal passages (hay fever) and also to treat motion sickness
Benevolence - an act intending or showing kindness and good will; an inclination to do kind or charitable acts; disposition to do good
Benign prostatic hyperplasia - enlarged prostate; appears to be part of the natural aging process
Benjamin Rush - physician and American Revolutionary leader; signer of the Declaration of Independence (1745 1813)
Benzene - a colorless liquid hydrocarbon; highly inflammable; carcinogenic; the simplest of the aromatic compounds
Bernstein - United States conductor and composer (1918 1990)
Beryllium - a light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic element
beverage - any liquid suitable for drinking
biochemist - someone with special training in biochemistry
biochemistry - the organic chemistry of compounds and processes occuring in organisms; the effort to understand biology within the context of chemistry
biologist - (biology) a scientist who studies living organisms
biology - the science that studies living organisms; characteristic life processes and phenomena of living organisms; all the plant and animal life of a particular region
Bionics - application of biological principals to the study and design of engineering systems (especially electronic systems)
Biostatistics - a branch of biology that studies biological phenomena and observations by means of statistical analysis
Birth control - limiting the number of children born
Birth Control - limiting the number of children born
biscuit - small round bread leavened with baking powder or soda; any of various small flat sweet cakes (`biscuit' is the British term)
Bitter orange - highly acidic orange used especially in marmalade; any of various common orange trees yielding sour or bitter fruit; used as grafting stock
Black Death - the epidemic form of bubonic plague experienced during the Middle Ages when it killed nearly half the people of western Europe
Black rot - a fungous disease causing darkening and decay of the leaves of fruits and vegetables
Blackwater - any of several human or animal diseases characterized by dark urine resulting from rapid breakdown of red blood cells
Bladder stone - a calculus formed in the bladder
Bland diet - a diet of foods that are not irritating
Blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelids characterized by redness and swelling and dried crusts
Blindfold - wearing a blindfold; a cloth used to cover the eyes; cover the eyes of (someone) to prevent him from seeing
Blister - (pathology) an elevation of the skin filled with serous fluid; get blistered; cause blisters to from on; subject to harsh criticism
Bloodshot - (of an eye) reddened as a result of locally congested blood vessels; inflamed
Blunt trauma - injury incurred when the human body hits or is hit by a large outside object (as a car)
Body odor - malodorousness resulting from a failure to bathe
Bodybuilding - exercise that builds muscles through tension
Bone age - a person's age measured by matching their bone development (as shown by X rays) with bone development of an average person of known chronological age
Booster dose - an additional dose that makes sure the first dose was effective
Bostonian - a native or resident of Boston
Brain death - death when respiration and other reflexes are absent; consciousness is gone; organs can be removed for transplantation before the heartbeat stops
Breaking point - the degree of tension or stress at which something breaks; (psychology) stress at which a person breaks down or a situation becomes crucial
Breast cancer - cancer of the breast; one of the most common malignancies in women in the US
Breech birth - delivery of an infant whose feet or buttocks appear first
Bromate - treat with bromine; react with bromine
Bronchiolitis - inflammation of the membranes lining the bronchioles
Bruce Lee - United States actor who was an expert in kung fu and starred in martial arts films (1941 1973)
Bundling - the act of shoving hastily; the act of binding something into a bundle; a onetime custom during courtship of unmarried couples occupying the same bed without undressing
Burial vault - a burial chamber (usually underground)
Bursitis - inflammation of a bursa; frequently in the shoulder
Cadaver - the dead body of a human being
Cadmium - a soft bluish white ductile malleable toxic bivalent metallic element; occurs in association with zinc ores
CADUCEUS - an insignia used by the medical profession; modeled after the staff of Hermes
Caesarean section - the delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus (from the belief that Julius Caesar was born that way)
Calcium - a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust; an important component of most plants and animals
Calisthenics - light exercises designed to promote general fitness; the practice of calisthenic exercises
Calmness - a feeling of calm; an absence of agitation or excitement; an absence of strong winds or rain; steadiness of mind under stress
Canned hunt - a hunt for animals that have been raised on game ranches until they are mature enough to be killed for trophy collections
Capitation - a tax levied on the basis of a fixed amount per person
Carbon disulfide - a toxic colorless flammable liquid (CS2); used in the manufacture of rayon and cellophane and carbon tetrachloride and as a solvent for rubber
Carbon monoxide poisoning - a toxic condition that results from inhaling and absorbing carbon monoxide gas
Carbon monoxide - an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon
Carbonated water - effervescent beverage artificially charged with carbon dioxide
Carcinogen - any substance that produces cancer
Cardiac arrest - absence of systole; failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to oxygen lack and eventually to death
Caregiver - a person who is responsible for attending to the needs of a child or dependent adult; a person who helps in identifying or preventing or treating illness or disability
Carl Jung - Swiss psychologist (1875 1961)
Caroline - of or relating to the life and times of kings Charles I or Charles II of England
Carpal tunnel - a passageway in the wrist through which nerves and the flexor muscles of the hands pass
Carrion - the dead and rotting body of an animal; unfit for human food
Carroll - English author; Charles Dodgson was an Oxford don of mathematics who is remembered for the children's stories he wrote under the pen name Lewis Carroll (1832 1898)
Caseworker - someone employed to provide social services (especially to the disadvantaged)
Castration anxiety - (psychoanalysis) anxiety resulting from real or imagined threats to your sexual functions; originally applied only to men but can in principal apply to women
Catalepsy - a trancelike state with loss of voluntary motion and failure to react to stimuli
Cataract - a large waterfall; violent rush of water over a precipice; clouding of the natural lens of the eye
Catarrh - inflammation of the nose and throat with increased production of mucus
Catherine - empress of Russia who greatly increased the territory of the empire (1729 1796); first wife of Henry VIII; Henry's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485 1536)
Cause of death - the causal agent resulting in death
CAVEman - someone who lives in a cave
Cell death - (physiology) the normal degeneration and death of living cells (as in various epithelial cells)
Cellulite - lumpy deposits of body fat especially on women's thighs etc.
Cellulitis - an inflammation of body tissue (especially that below the skin) characterized by fever and swelling and redness and pain
Centrum - the main body of a vertebra
Cervicitis - inflammation of the uterine cervix
Cervix - necklike opening to the uterus; the part of an organism that connects the head to the rest of the body
Cesspit - a covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it
Chandler - a maker (and seller) of candles and soap and oils and paints; a retail dealer in provisions and supplies; United States writer of detective thrillers featuring the character of Philip Marlowe (1888 1959)
Chaperone - one who accompanies and supervises a young woman or gatherings of young people; accompany as a chaperone
Charles Stuart - son of James I who was King of England and Scotland and Ireland; was deposed and executed by Oliver Cromwell (1600 1649)
Charlotte - a mold lined with cake or crumbs and filled with fruit or whipped cream or custard; the largest city in North Carolina; located in south central North Carolina
Chastity - abstaining from sexual relations (as because of religious vows); morality with respect to sexual relations
Cheating - violating accepted standards or rules; not faithful to a spouse or lover; a deception for profit to yourself
Checklist - a list of items (names or tasks etc.) to be checked or consulted
chemical - relating to or used in chemistry; of or made from or using substances produced by or used in reactions involving atomic or molecular changes; produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules
chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions; the way two individuals relate to each other
Chemosis - edema of the mucous membrane of the eyeball and eyelid lining
Chemotherapy - the use of chemical agents to treat or control disease (or mental illness)
Chewing - biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow
Chickenpox - an acute contagious disease caused by herpes varicella zoster virus; causes a rash of vesicles on the face and body
Childbirth - the parturition process in human beings; having a baby; the process of giving birth to a child
Chile - a republic in southern South America on the western slopes of the Andes on the south Pacific coast; very hot and finely tapering pepper of special pungency
chimpanzee - intelligent somewhat arboreal ape of equatorial African forests
Chin up - an arm exercise performed by pulling yourself up on a horizontal bar until your chin is level with the bar
Chinese Restaurant Syndrome - headache and tingling or burning feelings and sweating caused by eating food that contains monosodium glutamate
Chipper - having a cheerful, lively, and self confident air
Chlamydia trachomatis - bacteria responsible for the sexually transmitted diseases chlamydia and lymphogranuloma venereum
Chlamydia - coccoid rickettsia infesting birds and mammals; cause infections of eyes and lungs and genitourinary tract; a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria of the genus Chlamydia
Chlorella - any alga of the genus Chlorella
Chloroprene - derivative of butadiene used in making neoprene by polymerization
Choking - the act of suffocating (someone) by constricting the windpipe; a condition caused by blocking the airways to the lungs (as with food or swelling of the larynx)
Cholecystitis - inflammation of the gall bladder
Cholera - an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food
Cholesterol - an animal sterol that is normally synthesized by the liver; the most abundant steroid in animal tissues
Choline - a B complex vitamin that is a constituent of lecithin; essential in the metabolism of fat
Chrisom - a consecrated ointment consisting of a mixture of oil and balsam
Chromium - a hard brittle multivalent metallic element; resistant to corrosion and tarnishing
Chronic wasting disease - a wildlife disease (akin to bovine spongiform encephalitis) that affects deer and elk
Chyloderma - swelling of the scrotum resulting from chronic lymphatic obstruction
Cicada - stout bodied insect with large membranous wings; male has drum like organs for producing a high pitched drone
cigarette - finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
Cingulum - (anatomy) an encircling structure (as the ridge around the base of a tooth)
Circadian rhythm - a daily cycle of activity observed in many living organisms
circulatory - relating to circulatory system or to circulation of the blood; of or relating to circulation
Cirrhosis - a chronic disease interfering with the normal functioning of the liver; the major cause is chronic alcoholism
Civil defense - activities organized by civilians for their own protection in time of war or disaster
Cleanliness - diligence in keeping clean; the habit of keeping free of superficial imperfections
Climacteric - a period in a man's life corresponding to menopause; the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
Clinical psychology - the branch of psychology concerned with the treatment of abnormal mentation and behavior
clinical - scientifically detached; unemotional; relating to a clinic or conducted in or as if in a clinic and depending on direct observation of patients
Clinician - a practitioner (of medicine or psychology) who does clinical work instead of laboratory experiments
Clitoris - a female sexual organ homologous to the penis
Coccidia - an order in the subclass Telosporidia
Cochineal - a red dyestuff consisting of dried bodies of female cochineal insects; Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye
Cod liver oil - an oil obtained from the livers of cod and similar fishes; taken orally as a source of vitamins A and D
Cohort - a band of warriors (originally a unit of a Roman Legion); a company of companions or supporters; a group people having approximately the same age
Colostrum - milky fluid secreted for the first day or two after parturition
Comfort food - food that is simply prepared and gives a sense of wellbeing; typically food with a high sugar or carbohydrate content that is associated with childhood or with home cooking
Commissioner - a government administrator; a member of a commission
Common cold - a mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs)
Companion - one paid to accompany or assist or live with another; a person who is frequently in the company of another; a traveler who accompanies you; be a companion to somebody
Compassion - the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it; a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
Compatibility - capability of existing or performing in harmonious or congenial combination; a feeling of sympathetic understanding
Competence - the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually
composer - someone who composes music as a profession
Compost - a mixture of decaying vegetation and manure; used as a fertilizer; convert to compost
Compounding - the act of combining things to form a new whole
Computing - the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods; the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures
Conceive - become pregnant; undergo conception; judge or regard; look upon; judge; have the idea for
Condom - contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse
Conjunctivitis - inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye
Contact dermatitis - a delayed type of allergic reaction of the skin resulting from skin contact with a specific allergen (such as poison ivy)
Contagious disease - any disease easily transmitted by contact
Contentment - happiness with one's situation in life
controversy - a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
Convalescence - gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
Convention - the act of convening; something regarded as a normative example; (diplomacy) an international agreement; a large formal assembly; orthodoxy as a consequence of being conventional
Convention - the act of convening; something regarded as a normative example; (diplomacy) an international agreement; a large formal assembly; orthodoxy as a consequence of being conventional
conversion factor - factor by which a quantity that is expressed in one set of units must be multiplied in order to convert it into another set of units
Coprophagia - eating feces; in human a symptom of some kinds of insanity
Coronach - a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
Coronary artery disease - a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls
Coroner - a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
Corpus luteum - yellow endocrine tissue that forms in a ruptured Graafian follicle following the release of an ovum
Cortisol - an adrenal cortex hormone (trade names Hydrocortone or Cortef) that is active in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
Cotton wool - soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
Cover charge - a fixed charge by a restaurant or night club over and above the charge for food and drink
Crab louse - infests the pubic region of the human body
Craving - an intense desire for some particular thing
Creatine - an amino acid that does not occur in proteins but is found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates both in the free form and as phosphocreatine; supplies energy for muscle contraction
Crohn's disease - a serious chronic and progressive inflammation of the ileum producing frequent bouts of diarrhea with abdominal pain and nausea and fever and weight loss
Cryonics - the freezing of a seriously ill or recently deceased person to stop tissues from decomposing; the body is preserved until new medical cures are developed that might bring the person back to life
Cuisine - the practice or manner of preparing food or the food so prepared
Curandero - a Mexican man who practices healing techniques inherited from the Mayans
Cyanide poisoning - poisoning due to ingesting or inhaling cyanide; common in smoke from fires and in industrial chemicals
Cyanide - an extremely poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid; any of a class of organic compounds containing the cyano radical CN
Cystocele - hernia in which the urinary bladder protrudes through the wall of the vagina; sometimes occurs after childbirth
Cytopenia - a deficiency of some cellular element of the blood
Cytotoxicity - the degree to which something is toxic to living cells
Damping off - a plant disease caused by a fungus; diseased condition of seedlings in excessive moisture
Danube - the 2nd longest European river (after the Volga); flows from southwestern Germany to the Black Sea
David Livingstone - Scottish missionary and explorer who discovered the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls (1813 1873)
Davy lamp - an oil lamp that will not ignite flammable gases (methane)
Daydream - absentminded dreaming while awake; have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake; have a daydream; indulge in a fantasy
Decapitation - killing by cutting off the head; execution by cutting off the victim's head
Decidua - the epithelial tissue of the endometrium
Decontamination - the removal of contaminants
Deep Red - a deep and vivid red color
Defence mechanism - (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
deficiency - lack of an adequate quantity or number; the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
Degustation - taking a small amount into the mouth to test its quality
Dehydration - the process of extracting moisture; depletion of bodily fluids; dryness resulting from the removal of water
Delirium tremens - acute delirium caused by alcohol poisoning
Dementia - mental deterioration of organic or functional origin
Dental implant - an implant that replaces a natural tooth
Dental school - a graduate school offering study leading to degrees in dentistry
Dental surgery - the branch of dentistry involving surgical procedures
Dentist - a person qualified to practice dentistry
dentistry - the branch of medicine dealing with the anatomy and development and diseases of the teeth
Desalination - the removal of salt (especially from sea water)
Designated driver - the member of a party who is designated to refrain from alcohol and so is sober when it is time to drive home
Diabetes - any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive urination and persistent thirst
Diabetic diet - a diet designed to help control the symptoms of diabetes
Diaphragmatic hernia - hernia resulting from the protrusion of part of the stomach through the diaphragm
Diarrhea - frequent and watery bowel movements; can be a symptom of infection or food poisoning or colitis or a gastrointestinal tumor
Diathesis - constitutional predisposition to a particular disease or abnormality
Diatomaceous earth - a light soil consisting of siliceous diatom remains and often used as a filtering material
Dieting - the act of restricting your food intake (or your intake of particular foods)
Dietitian - a specialist in the study of nutrition
Diffuser - optical device that distributes the light of a lamp evenly; baffle that distributes sound waves evenly
digital - of a circuit or device that represents magnitudes in digits; relating to or performed with the fingers; displaying numbers rather than scale positions
Dignity - the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect; formality in bearing and appearance; high office or rank or station
Dippel's oil - dark colored ill smelling oil obtained by carbonizing bone; used especially in sheep dips and in denaturing alcohol
Dipsomania - an intense persistent desire to drink alcoholic beverages to excess
Directive - showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on; a procement encouraging or banning some activity
Disability insurance - social insurance for the disabled
Disability - the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness
disambiguation - clarification that follows from the removal of ambiguity
Disease - an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
Disfigurement - an appearance that has been spoiled or is misshapen; the act of damaging the appearance or surface of something
Dishwashing - the act of washing dishes
Disinfectant - preventing infection by inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms; an agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease
Dispensary - clinic where medicine and medical supplies are dispensed
Distilled water - water that has been purified by distillation
Distraction - the act of distracting; drawing someone's attention away from something; mental turmoil; an obstacle to attention; an entertainment that provokes pleased interest and distracts you from worries and vexations
Disulfiram - a drug (trade name Antabuse) used in the treatment of alcoholism; causes nausea and vomiting if alcohol is ingested
Divine Comedy - a narrative epic poem written by Dante
Doctor of Public Health - a doctor's degree in preventive medicine
documentary film - a film or TV program presenting the facts about a person or event
Domestic violence - violence or physical abuse directed toward your spouse or domestic partner; usually violence by men against women
Dopamine - a monoamine neurotransmitter found in the brain and essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system; as a drug (trade names Dopastat and Intropin) it is used to treat shock and hypotension
Dorothea Dix - United States social reformer who pioneered in the reform of prisons and in the treatment of the mentally ill; superintended women army nurses during the American Civil War (1802 1887)
Doubling - raising the stakes in a card game by a factor of 2; increase by a factor of two
Down syndrome - a congenital disorder caused by having an extra 21st chromosome; results in a flat face and short stature and mental retardation
Drinking fountain - a public fountain to provide a jet of drinking water
Drinking water - water suitable for drinking
Dry cleaning - the act of cleaning (fabrics) with a solvent other than water
Dwarfism - a genetic abnormality resulting in short stature
economist - an expert in the science of economics
Ecstasy - a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion; a state of elated bliss; street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Egg cell - the female reproductive cell; the female gamete
Ehrlich - German bacteriologist who found a `magic bullet' to cure syphilis and was a pioneer in the study of immunology (1854 1915)
Ejaculation - an abrupt emphatic exclamation expressing emotion; the discharge of semen in males
Ejaculatory duct - a part of the seminal duct formed by the duct from the seminal vesicle and the vas deferens; passes through the prostate gland
electricity - keen and shared excitement; a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons; energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor
Electroconvulsive therapy - the administration of a strong electric current that passes through the brain to induce convulsions and coma
Electrocution - killing by electric shock; execution by electricity
electronics company - a company that makes and sells electronic instruments
Elixir of life - a hypothetical substance believed to maintain life indefinitely; once sought by alchemists
Emanuel Swedenborg - Swedish theologian (1688 1772)
Emasculation - loss of power and masculinity; neutering a male animal by removing the testicles
Embrasure - an opening (in a wall or ship or armored vehicle) for firing through
Emergency - a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action; a state in which martial law applies; a brake operated by hand; usually operates by mechanical linkage
Empathy - understanding and entering into another's feelings
Empathy - understanding and entering into another's feelings
Empowerment - the act of conferring legality or sanction or formal warrant
Encephalitis - inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus; symptoms include headache and neck pain and drowsiness and nausea and fever (`phrenitis' is no longer in scientific use)
Encopresis - involuntary defecation not attributable to physical defects or illness
Endocarditis - inflammation of the endocardium and heart valves
Endometrial cancer - cancer of the uterine lining
Endometritis - inflammation of the lining of the uterus (of the endometrium)
Endurance - the power to withstand hardship or stress; a state of surviving; remaining alive
Enema - injection of a liquid through the anus to stimulate evacuation; sometimes used for diagnostic purposes
engineer - a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems; the operator of a railway locomotive; design as an engineer; plan and direct (a complex undertaking)
Enteritis - inflammation of the intestine (especially the small intestine); usually characterized by diarrhea
Enteropathy - a disease of the intestinal tract
Environment - the area in which something exists or lives; the totality of surrounding conditions
Environment - the area in which something exists or lives; the totality of surrounding conditions
Eosinopenia - a decrease in the number of eosinophils in the blood
Eosinophilia - a symptom of allergic states; increased eosinophils in the blood
Ephedra - jointed and nearly leafless desert shrub having reduced scalelike leaves and reddish fleshy seeds
Epicondylitis - painful inflammation of the muscles and soft tissues around an epicondyle
epidemiology - the branch of medical science dealing with the transmission and control of disease
Epididymitis - painful inflammation of the epididymis
Epiphany - a divine manifestation; twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus
Episcleritis - inflammation of the sclera of the eye
Epizootic - (of animals) epidemic among animals of a single kind within a particular region
Equal opportunity - the right to equivalent opportunities for employment regardless of race or color or sex or national origin
Equating - the act of regarding as equal
equestrian - of or relating to or featuring horseback riding; of or relating to or composed of knights; a man skilled in equitation
Erectile dysfunction - impotence resulting from a man's inability to have or maintain an erection of his penis
Erection - a structure that has been erected; an erect penis; the act of building or putting up
Erethism - an abnormally high degree of irritability or sensitivity to stimulation of an organ or body part
Ergosterol - a plant sterol that is converted into vitamin D by ultraviolet radiation
Erythema - abnormal redness of the skin resulting from dilation of blood vessels (as in sunburn or inflammation)
Esophagitis - inflammation of the esophagus; often caused by gastroesophageal reflux
Essential amino acid - an amino acid that is required by animals but that they cannot synthesize; must be supplied in the diet
Estradiol - the most powerful female hormone that occurs naturally; synthesized and used to treat estrogen deficiency and breast cancer
Estrogen - a general term for female steroid sex hormones that are secreted by the ovary and responsible for typical female sexual characteristics
Eudaimonia - a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
Euphoria - a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation
Euphrosyne - (Greek mythology) one of the three Graces
Eurythmy - the interpretation in harmonious bodily movements of the rhythm of musical compositions; used to teach musical understanding
Euthanasia - the act of killing someone painlessly (especially someone suffering from an incurable illness)
Euthenics - the study of methods of improving human well being and efficient functioning by improving environmental conditions
evaluate - form a critical opinion of; place a value on; judge the worth of something
Evaluation - act of ascertaining or fixing the value or worth of; an appraisal of the value of something
evangelist - a preacher of the Christian gospel; (when capitalized) any of the spiritual leaders who are assumed to be authors of the Gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Exertion - use of physical or mental energy; hard work
Extrusion - squeezing out by applying pressure; something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings
Eyesore - something very ugly and offensive
Eyewash - lotion consisting of a solution used as a cleanser for the eyes
Fad diet - a reducing diet that enjoys temporary popularity
Faith healing - care provided through prayer and faith in God
Falling - becoming lower or less in degree or value; decreasing in amount or degree; coming down freely under the influence of gravity
Fallopian tube - either of a pair of tubes conducting the egg from the ovary to the uterus
Fanfare - (music) a short lively tune played on brass instruments; a gaudy outward display
Fantasy - imagination unrestricted by reality; fiction with a large amount of imagination in it; something many people believe that is false; indulge in fantasies
Farmer's lung - alveolitis caused by an allergic reaction to fungal spores in the dust that is inhaled from moldy hay
Fasciola hepatica - flatworm parasitic in liver and bile ducts of domestic animals and humans
Fasciolosis - infestation with the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica; liver damage sometimes occurs; related to liver rot
Fauces - the passage between the back of the mouth and the pharynx
Fee splitting - payment (usually by doctors or lawyers) of part of the fee in return for the referral
Female reproductive system - the reproductive system of females
Feminism - a doctrine that advocates equal rights for women; the movement aimed at equal rights for women
Fermentation - a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol; a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
Fetal distress - an abnormal condition of a fetus; usually discovered during pregnancy and characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm
Fibroadenoma - benign and movable and firm and not tender tumor of the breast; common in young women and caused by high levels of estrogen
Fibrosis - development of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ
Field hospital - a temporary military hospital near the battle lines
Filariasis - a disease caused by nematodes in the blood or tissues of the body causing blockage of lymphatic vessels
Finger bowl - small bowl for rinsing the fingers at table
fire control - preparation for the delivery of shellfire on a target
Firedamp - a mixture of gases (mostly methane) that form in coal mines and become explosive when mixed with air
Firefighter - a member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires
Firewater - any strong spirits (such as strong whisky or rum)
First aid - emergency care given before regular medical aid can be obtained
Fish oil - a fatty oil obtained from the livers of various fish
Fish oil - a fatty oil obtained from the livers of various fish
Fistula - an abnormal passage leading from a suppurating cavity to the body surface; a chronic inflammation of the withers of a horse
Fitness - the condition of being suitable; the quality of being qualified; good physical condition; being in shape or in condition; fitness to traverse the seas
Flexibility - the quality of being adaptable or variable; the property of being flexible; easily bent or shaped; the trait of being easily persuaded
Flocculation - the process of flocculating; forming woolly cloudlike aggregations
Foie gras - a pate made from goose liver (marinated in Cognac) and truffles
folklore - the unwritten literature (stories and pros and riddles and songs) of a culture
Food additive - an additive to food intended to improve its flavor or appearance or shelf life
Food and Agriculture Organization - the United Nations agency concerned with the international organization of food and agriculture
Food and Drug Administration - a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services established to regulate the release of new foods and health related products
Food pyramid - (ecology) a hierarchy of food chains with the principal predator at the top; each level preys on the level below
Food waste - food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
Foraging - the act of searching for food and provisions
Forbidden fruit - originally an apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden; it is now used to refer to anything that is tempting but dangerous (as sexuality)
Formaldehyde - a colorless poisonous gas; made by the oxidation of methanol
Formulary - of or relating to or of the nature of a formula; (pharmacology) a book containing a compilation of pharmaceutical products with their formulas and methods of preparation
Francis Galton - English scientist (cousin of Charles Darwin) who explored many fields: heredity, meteorology, statistics, psychology, anthropology; founder of eugenics and first to use fingerprints for identification (1822 1911)
Frank Cooper - United States film actor noted for his portrayals of strong silent heroes (1901 1961)
Fratricide - the murder of your sibling; a person who murders their brother or sister; fire that injures or kills an ally
Fresh food - food that is not preserved by canning or dehydration or freezing or smoking
Frostbite - destruction of tissue by freezing and characterized by tingling, blistering and possibly gangrene
Fructose - a simple sugar found in honey and in many ripe fruits
Functional disorder - disorder showing symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified
Funeral director - one whose business is the management of funerals
Galactagogue - agent that induces milk secretion
Galactocele - a cystic tumor containing milk or a milky substance (especially in the mammary glands)
Galactose - a simple sugar found in lactose
Gangrene - necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass; the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply); undergo necrosis
Gas chamber - instrument of execution consisting of a sealed chamber into which poison gas is introduced; used to kill people or animals
Gastritis - inflammation of the lining of the stomach; nausea and loss of appetite and discomfort after eating
Gastroenteritis - inflammation of the stomach and intestines; can be caused by Salmonella enteritidis
Gastronomy - the art and practice of choosing and preparing and eating good food; a particular style of cookery (as of a region)
Gastrostomy - surgical creation of an opening through the abdominal wall into the stomach (as for gastrogavage)
Gatekeeper - someone who controls access to something; someone who guards an entrance
Gateway - an entrance that can be closed by a gate
Genetic disorder - a disease or disorder that is inherited genetically
Genital herpes - an infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV 2) that is usually transmitted by sexual contact; marked by recurrent attacks of painful eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital area
Gentamicin - an antibiotic (trade name Garamycin) that is derived from an actinomycete; used in treating infections of the urinary tract
Gentlemen's agreement - a personal agreement based on honor and not legally binding
Geophagia - eating earth or clay or chalk; occurs in some primitive tribes or sometimes in cases of nutritional deficiency
Germany - a republic in central Europe; split into East German and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990
Gestalt psychology - (psychology) a theory of psychology that emphasizes the importance of configurational properties
Gestational age - the age of an embryo counting from the time of fertilization
Ghrelin - a hormone produced by stomach cells
Giardiasis - infection of the intestines with protozoa found in contaminated food and water; characterized by diarrhea and nausea and flatulence and abdominal discomfort
Gigantism - excessive largeness of stature; excessive size; usually caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland
Gingivitis - inflammation of the gums
Ginseng - Chinese herb with palmately compound leaves and small greenish flowers and forked aromatic roots believed to have medicinal powers; aromatic root of ginseng plants
Glioblastoma - a fast growing malignant brain tumor composed of spongioblasts; nearly always fatal
Glomerulonephritis - nephritis marked by inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney; characterized by decreased production of urine and by the presence of blood and protein in the urine and by edema
Glossitis - inflammation of the tongue
Glucose - a monosaccharide sugar that has several forms; an important source of physiological energy
Glutamine - a crystalline amino acid occurring in proteins; important in protein metabolism
Gluten - a protein substance that remains when starch is removed from cereal grains; gives cohesiveness to dough
Gluttony - eating to excess (personified as one of the deadly sins); habitual eating to excess
Glycogen - one form in which body fuel is stored; stored primarily in the liver and broken down into glucose when needed by the body
Gold standard - a paragon of excellence; a monetary standard under which the basic unit of currency is defined by a stated quantity of gold
Golden Rule - a command based on Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount; any important rule
Goliath - (Old Testament) a giant Philistine warrior who was slain by David with a slingshot; someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful
Goniometer - direction finder that determines the angular direction of incoming radio signals
Goodman - United States clarinetist who in 1934 formed a big band (including Black as well as White musicians) and introduced a kind of jazz known as swing (1909 1986)
gorilla - largest anthropoid ape; terrestrial and vegetarian; of forests of central west Africa
Gourmand - a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
Gourmet - a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)
Gracie - United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906 1964)
Granuloma - a tumor composed of granulation tissue resulting from injury or inflammation or infection
Grapefruit - large yellow fruit with somewhat acid juicy pulp; usual serving consists of a half; citrus tree bearing large round edible fruit having a thick yellow rind and juicy somewhat acid pulp
Gratification - the act or an instance of satisfying; state of being gratified; great satisfaction
Gratuity - an award (as for meritorious service) given without claim or obligation; a relatively small amount of money given for services rendered (as by a waiter)
Gravedigger - a person who earns a living by digging graves
Gulf War syndrome - a medical condition of uncertain origin that affected many veterans of the 1991 Gulf War; characterized by fatigue and headache and dizziness and nausea and rashes and joint pain and respiratory disorders
Gutta percha - a whitish rubber derived from the coagulated milky latex of gutta percha trees; used for insulation of electrical cables
Gymkhana - a meet at which riders and horses display a range of skills and aptitudes
Gynaecology - the branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and hygiene of women
Hair care - care for the hair: the activity of washing or cutting or curling or arranging the hair
Hair of the dog - an alcoholic drink supposed to cure a hangover
hamburger - a sandwich consisting of a fried cake of minced beef served on a bun, often with other ingredients; beef that has been ground
Hangnail - a loose narrow strip of skin near the base of a fingernail; tearing it produces a painful sore that is easily infected
Hangover - something that has survived from the past; disagreeable aftereffects from the use of drugs (especially alcohol); an official who remains in office after his term
Happiness - emotions experienced when in a state of well being; state of well being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
Hatha Yoga - yogic exercises (popular in the West) that combine difficult postures (which force the mind to withdraw from the outside world) with controlled breathing
Haute cuisine - (French) an elaborate and skillful manner of preparing food
Haverhill fever - the form of ratbite fever occurring in the United States
Healing - tending to cure or restore to health; the natural process by which the body repairs itself
Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979
Health care provider - a person who helps in identifying or preventing or treating illness or disability
Health care - social insurance for the ill and injured; the preservation of mental and physical health by preventing or treating illness through services offered by the health profession
Health facility - building where medicine is practiced
Health hazard - hazard to the health of those exposed to it
Health insurance - insurance against loss due to ill health
Health professional - a person who helps in identifying or preventing or treating illness or disability
Health - the general condition of body and mind; a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
Health - the general condition of body and mind; a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
healthcare - the preservation of mental and physical health by preventing or treating illness through services offered by the health profession
Hearing loss - partial or complete loss of hearing
Heart failure - inability of the heart to pump enough blood to sustain normal bodily functions
Helminthiasis - infestation of the body with parasitic worms
Hemoglobinuria - presence of hemoglobin in the urine
Hemostasis - surgical procedure of stopping the flow of blood (as with a hemostat)
Hepatitis - inflammation of the liver caused by a virus or a toxin
Herbal medicine - the use of medicinal herbs to prevent or treat disease or promote health; a medicine made from plants and used to prevent or treat disease or promote health
Herbicide - a chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth
Herpes simplex virus - a herpes virus that affects the skin and nervous system
Hibernation - the act of retiring into inactivity; cessation from or slowing of activity during the winter; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals; the torpid or resting state in which some animals pass the winter
High voltage - operating on or powered by a high voltage; vigorously energetic or forceful
Highlander - a native of the Highlands of Scotland; a soldier in a Scottish regiment from the Highlands
Holy Roman Emperor - sovereign of the Holy Roman Empire
Home economics - theory and practice of homemaking
Homesickness - a longing to return home
Homicide - the killing of a human being by another human being
Homogenization - the act of making something homogeneous or uniform in composition
Homophobia - prejudice against (fear or dislike of) homosexual people and homosexuality
Honor killing - an ancient Muslim tradition still sometimes observed; a male member of the family kills a female relative for tarnishing the family image
Hormone - the secretion of an endocrine gland that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effect
Hospice - a program of medical and emotional care for the terminally ill; a lodging for travelers (especially one kept by a monastic order)
Hospital ship - a ship built to serve as a hospital; used for wounded in wartime
Hospital train - a military train built to transport wounded troops to a hospital
Hot work - roll, press, forge, or shape (metal) while hot
Howard - Queen of England as the fifth wife of Henry VIII who was accused of adultery and executed (1520 1542); English actor of stage and screen (1893 1943)
Human chorionic gonadotropin - hormone produced early in pregnancy by the placenta; detection in the urine and serum is the basis for one kind of pregnancy test
Human waste - the body wastes of human beings
Hunger - strong desire for something (not food or drink); a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation; feel the need to eat; be hungry; go without food; have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
Hunger - strong desire for something (not food or drink); a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation; feel the need to eat; be hungry; go without food; have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
Hunting license - a license authorizing the bearer to kill a certain type of animal during a specified period of time
Hunting season - the season during which it is legal to kill a particular species
Hunting - the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport; the work of finding and killing or capturing animals for food or pelts; the activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone
Huntington's disease - hereditary disease; develops in adulthood and ends in dementia
Hyderabad - a city in south central India in Andhra Pradesh; a city in southern Pakistan on the Indus River
hydralazine - an antihypertensive drug (trade name Apresoline) that dilates blood vessels; used (often with a diuretic) to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure
hydraulic engineering - the branch of civil engineering dealing with the use and control of water in motion
Hydrazine - a colorless fuming corrosive liquid; a powerful reducing agent; used chiefly in rocket fuels
hydrology - the branch of geology that studies water on the earth and in the atmosphere: its distribution and uses and conservation
Hygiene - the science concerned with the prevention of illness and maintenance of health; a condition promoting sanitary practices
Hygiene - the science concerned with the prevention of illness and maintenance of health; a condition promoting sanitary practices
Hyperemesis gravidarum - hyperemesis during pregnancy; if severe it can result in damage to the brain and liver and kidney
Hyperextension - greater than normal extension
Hypertension - a common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high (a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater)
Hyperthermia - abnormally high body temperature; sometimes induced (as in treating some forms of cancer)
Hypertonia - (of muscular tissue) the state of being hypertonic
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a disorder in which the heart muscle is so strong that it does not relax enough to fill with the heart with blood and so has reduced pumping ability
Hypertrophy - abnormal enlargement of a body part or organ; undergo hypertrophy
Hypobetalipoproteinemia - a hereditary disorder characterized by low levels of beta lipoproteins and lipids and cholesterol
Hypolipoproteinemia - any of various disorders of lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolism that result in low levels of lipoprotein and cholesterol in the circulating blood
Hypoproteinemia - abnormally low level of protein in the blood; can indicate inadequate diet or intestinal or renal disorders
Hypothalamic - of or relating to the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus - a basal part of the diencephalon governing autonomic nervous system
Hypothermia - subnormal body temperature
Hypotonia - (of muscular tissue) the state of being hypotonic
Hypoxia - a very strong drive resulting from a deficiency of available oxygen in the blood and bodily tissues (short of anoxia)
Hysterectomy - surgical removal of the uterus
Iceland - a volcanic island in the North Atlantic near the Arctic Circle; an island republic on the island of Iceland; became independent of Denmark in 1944
Identity crisis - distress and disorientation (especially in adolescence) resulting from conflicting pressures and uncertainty about and one's self and one's role in society
Idiopathic disease - any disease arising from internal dysfunctions of unknown cause
illness - impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
Immortal - not subject to death; a person (such as an author) of enduring fame; any supernatural being worshipped as controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who is the personification of a force
Immortality - the quality or state of being immortal; perpetual life after death
immune globulin - a class of proteins produced in lymph tissue in vertebrates and that function as antibodies in the immune response
Immunization - the act of making immune (especially by inoculation)
Immurement - the state of being imprisoned
Impedance - a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms
Impetigo - a very contagious infection of the skin; common in children; localized redness develops into small blisters that gradually crust and erode
Incidence - the striking of a light beam on a surface; the relative frequency of occurrence of something
Inclusion - the act of including; the relation of comprising something; the state of being included; any small intracellular body found within another (characteristic of certain diseases)
Incorporated - introduced into as a part of the whole; organized and maintained as a legal corporation; formed or united into a whole
Incorruptibility - the incapability of being corrupted
Incubation period - the period between infection and the appearance of symptoms of the disease
Index case - the earliest documented case of a disease that is included in an epidemiological study
Indian club - a bottle shaped club used in exercises
Industry - the organized action of making of goods and services for sale; the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise; persevering determination to perform a task
Infant mortality - the death rate during the first year of life
Infanticide - murdering an infant; a person who murders an infant
Infarction - localized necrosis resulting from obstruction of the blood supply
Infectious disease - a disease transmitted only by a specific kind of contact
Inferno - (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment; a very intense and uncontrolled fire; any place of pain and turmoil
Infertility - the state of being unable to produce offspring; in a woman it is an inability to conceive; in a man it is an inability to impregnate
Influenza - an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
Inquest - an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death
insomniac - experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness; someone who cannot sleep
Institute - an association organized to promote art or science or education; advance or set forth in court; set up or lay the groundwork for
Intelligence quotient - a measure of a person's intelligence as indicated by an intelligence test; the ratio of a person's mental age to their chronological age (multiplied by 100)
Interrupted - discontinued temporarily; intermittently stopping and starting
Intertrigo - chafing between two skin surfaces that are in contact (as in the armpit or under the breasts or between the thighs)
Ionizing radiation - high energy radiation capable of producing ionization in substances through which it passes
Irresistible impulse - an urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid
Islamabad - the capital of Pakistan in the north on a plateau; the site was chosen in 1959
Isocyanate - a salt or ester of isocyanic acid
Isometric exercise - muscle building exercises (or a system of musclebuilding exercises) involving muscular contractions against resistance without movement (the muscles contracts but the length of the muscle does not change)
Isomorphism - (biology) similarity or identity of form or shape or structure
Isothiocyanate - a family of compounds derived from horseradish and radishes and onions and mustards; source of the hotness of those plants and preparations
Jejunostomy - surgical creation of an opening between the jejunum and the anterior abdominal wall; will allow artificial feeding
Jessica Mitford - United States writer (born in England) who wrote on American culture (1917 1996)
jewelry - an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)
Jim Morrison - United States rock singer (1943 1971)
Jogging - running at a jog trot as a form of cardiopulmonary exercise
John Hancock - a person's own signature; American revolutionary patriot who was president of the Continental Congress; was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence (1737 1793)
John Howard Northrop - United States biochemist (1891 1987)
John Scott Haldane - Scottish physiologist and brother of Richard Haldane and Elizabeth Haldane; noted for research into industrial diseases (1860 1936)
Joie de vivre - a keen enjoyment of living
Jonathan - red late ripening apple; primarily eaten raw
Jumping - the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump; the act of jumping; propelling yourself off the ground
Kaufman - United States playwright who collaborated with many other writers including Moss Hart (1889 1961)
Kawasaki disease - an acute disease of young children characterized by a rash and swollen lymph nodes and fever; of unknown cause
Kennedy - a large airport on Long Island east of New York City; 35th President of the United States; established the Peace Corps; assassinated in Dallas (1917 1963)
Keratitis - inflammation of the cornea causing watery painful eyes and blurred vision
Keratoconjunctivitis - inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva
Keratosis pilaris - keratosis characterized by hard conical elevations in the openings of sebaceous glands (especially of arms and thighs)
Kick the bucket - pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
Kinesiology - the branch of physiology that studies the mechanics and anatomy in relation to human movement
Kiribati - an island republic in the west central Pacific just south of the equator
Kitchen - a room equipped for preparing meals
Klebsiella - a genus of nonmotile rod shaped Gram negative enterobacteria; some cause respiratory and other infections
Labyrinthitis - inflammation of the inner ear; can cause vertigo and vomiting
Lactation - the production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands; the period following birth during which milk is secreted; feeding an infant by giving suck at the breast
Lactiferous duct - ducts of the mammary gland that carry milk to the nipple
Lactobacillus - Gram positive rod shaped bacteria that produce lactic acid especially in milk
Lactose intolerance - congenital disorder consisting of an inability to digest milk and milk products; absence or deficiency of lactase results in an inability to hydrolyze lactose
Laryngitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx; characterized by hoarseness or loss of voice and coughing
Latrine - a public toilet in a military area
Laughter - the activity of laughing; the manifestation of joy or mirth or scorn; the sound of laughing
Lauric acid - a crystalline fatty acid occurring as glycerides in natural fats and oils (especially coconut oil and palm kernel oil)
Lead poisoning - toxic condition produced by the absorption of excessive lead into the system
Learning disability - a disorder found in children of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills
Legionella - the motile aerobic rod shaped Gram negative bacterium that thrives in central heating and air conditioning systems and can cause Legionnaires' disease
Leisure - freedom to choose a pastime or enjoyable activity; time available for ease and relaxation
Leonard - United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)
Lethal dose - the size dose that will cause death
Lethality - the quality of being deadly
Leukorrhea - discharge of white mucous material from the vagina; often an indication of infection
Licensed practical nurse - a nurse who has enough training to be licensed by a state to provide routine care for the sick
Lifesize - being of the same size as an original
Lightning arrester - electrical device inserted in a power line to protect equipment from sudden fluctuations in current
Linseed oil - a drying oil extracted from flax seed and used in making such things as oil paints
Liquefaction - the conversion of a solid or a gas into a liquid
Liquid diet - a diet of foods that can be served in liquid or strained form (plus custards or puddings); prescribed after certain kinds of surgery
Liquid nitrogen - nitrogen in a liquid state
Liquid oxygen - a bluish translucent magnetic liquid obtained by compressing gaseous oxygen and then cooling it below its boiling point; used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants
Listening - the act of hearing attentively
Lithia water - mineral water containing lithium salts
Live birth - the birth of a living fetus (regardless of the length of gestation)
Livonia - a region on the Baltic that is divided between northern Estonia and southern Latvia
Lockdown - the act of confining prisoners to their cells (usually to regain control during a riot)
Lockout - a management action resisting employee's demands; employees are barred from entering the workplace until they agree to terms
Lonicera japonica - an Asiatic trailing evergreen honeysuckle with half evergreen leaves and fragrant white flowers turning yellow with age; has become a weed in some areas
Low voltage - subjected to or capable of operating under relative low voltage
Lumbar puncture - removal by centesis of fluid from the subarachnoid space of the lumbar region of the spinal cord for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
Lung cancer - carcinoma of the lungs; one of the commonest forms of cancer
Lycopene - carotenoid that makes tomatoes red; may lower the risk of prostate cancer
Lymphadenopathy - chronic abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes (usually associated with disease)
Lymphedema - swelling (usually in the legs) caused by lymph accumulating in the tissues
lymphoma - a neoplasm of lymph tissue that is usually malignant; one of the four major types of cancer
Madagascar - an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa; the 4th largest island in the world; a republic on the island of Madagascar; achieved independence from France in 1960
Madonna - United States pop singer and sex symbol during the 1980s (born in 1958); the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
Main course - a square mainsail; the principal dish of a meal
Malaise - physical discomfort (as mild sickness or depression)
Male bonding - the formation of a close personal relationship between men
Malingering - evading duty or work by pretending to be incapacitated
Malnutrition - a state of poor nutrition; can result from insufficient or excessive or unbalanced diet or from inability to absorb foods
Mammary gland - milk secreting organ of female mammals
Manganese - a hard brittle grey polyvalent metallic element that resembles iron but is not magnetic; used in making steel; occurs in many minerals
Manliness - the trait of being manly; having the characteristics of an adult male
Mariticide - the murder of a husband by his wife
Mary Baker Eddy - founder of Christian Science in 1866 (1821 1910)
Mary Mallon - United States cook who was an immune carrier of typhoid fever and who infected dozens of people (1870 1938)
Mastitis - inflammation of a breast (or udder)
Mastoiditis - inflammation of the mastoid
Matching - intentionally matched; being two identical
Maternity hospital - a hospital that provides care for women during pregnancy and childbirth and for newborn infants
mathematician - a person skilled in mathematics
Matricide - the murder of your mother; a person who murders their mother
Maundy - a public ceremony on Maundy Thursday when the monarch distributes Maundy money
Maya Lin - United States sculptor and architect whose public works include the memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War in Washington (born in 1959)
Measles - an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children
Mediation - the act of intervening for the purpose of bringing about a settlement; negotiation to resolve differences conducted by some impartial party
Medicaid - health care for the needy; a federally and state funded program
Medical assistant - a person trained to assist medical professionals
Medical evacuation - the evacuation of persons (usually be air transportation) to a place where they can receive medical care
Medical Examination - a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person
Medical examiner - a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
Medical record - the case history of a medical patient as recalled by the patient
Medicare - health care for the aged; a federally administered system of health insurance available to persons aged 65 and over
medication - the act of treating with medicines or remedies; (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
MEDLINE - the computer based telephone system of the United States National Library of Medicine that provides rapid linkage to MEDLARS
Megadeath - the death of a million people
Megavitamin therapy - therapy based on a theory that taking very large doses of vitamins will prevent or cure physical or psychological disorders
Melanoma - any of several malignant neoplasms (usually of the skin) consisting of melanocytes
Menarche - the first occurrence of menstruation in a woman
Menopause - the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
Menopause - the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
Mens rea - (law) criminal intent; the thoughts and intentions behind a wrongful act (including knowledge that the act is illegal); often at issue in murder trials
Menstrual cycle - a recurring cycle (beginning at menarche and ending at menopause) in which the endometrial lining of the uterus prepares for pregnancy; if pregnancy does not occur the lining is shed at menstruation
Menstruation - the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause
Mental age - the level of intellectual development as measured by an intelligence test
Mental disorder - (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness
Mental health - the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment
Meromelia - congenital absence of part of an arm or leg
Mesothelioma - a rare form of carcinoma of the mesothelium lining lungs or abdomen or heart; usually associated with exposure to asbestos dust
Messenger - a person who carries a message
methodology - the system of methods followed in a particular discipline; the branch of philosophy that analyzes the principles and procedures of inquiry in a particular discipline
Microbiologist - a specialist in microbiology
microbiology - the branch of biology that studies microorganisms and their effects on humans
Microcyte - an abnormally small red blood cell (less than 5 microns in diameter)
Micronutrient - a substance needed only in small amounts for normal body function (e.g., vitamins or minerals)
Midwifery - assisting women at childbirth; the branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of the mother
Minamata disease - a form of mercury poisoning among people who ate fish from mercury contaminated waters of Minamata Bay off Japan in the 1950s; characterized by severe neurological degeneration
Mineral - of or containing or derived from minerals; composed of matter other than plant or animal; relating to minerals; solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
Minimisation - the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position
Mining - the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth; laying explosive mines in concealed places to destroy enemy personnel and equipment
Minutes - a written account of what transpired at a meeting
Miracle - a marvellous event manifesting a supernatural act of God; any amazing or wonderful occurrence
mistress - a woman master who directs the work of others; an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man; a woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict)
Mitral valve prolapse - cardiopathy resulting from the mitral valve not regulating the flow of blood between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart
Mittelschmerz - pain in the area of the ovary that is felt at the time of ovulation (usually midway through the menstrual cycle)
Mixed drink - made of two or more ingredients
Mobile phone - a hand held mobile radiotelephone for use in an area divided into small sections, each with its own short range transmitter/receiver
mobility - the quality of moving freely
Moderation - the action of lessening in severity or intensity; quality of being moderate and avoiding extremes; the trait of avoiding excesses; a change for the better
Molar pregnancy - an abnormality during pregnancy; chorionic villi around the fetus degenerate and form clusters of fluid filled sacs; usually associated with the death of the fetus
Molluscum contagiosum - a virus disease of the skin marked by round white swellings; transmitted from person to person (most often in children or in adults with impaired immune function)
Monoplegia - paralysis of a single limb
Morning sickness - nausea early in the day; a characteristic symptom in the early months of pregnancy
Mortality rate - the ratio of deaths in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 per year
Mother's boy - a boy excessively attached to his mother; lacking normal masculine interests
Motorized wheelchair - a wheelchair propelled by a motor
mountaineer - someone who climbs mountains; climb mountains for pleasure as a sport
Mourner - a person who is feeling grief (as grieving over someone who has died)
Multiple Personality - a relatively rare dissociative disorder in which the usual integrity of the personality breaks down and two or more independent personalities emerge
multivitamin - a pill or tablet containing several vitamins
Mummery - meaningless ceremonies and flattery
MUMPS - an acute contagious viral disease characterized by fever and by swelling of the parotid glands
murderer - a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
musician - artist who composes or conducts music as a profession; someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)
Mutagen - any agent (physical or environmental) that can induce a genetic mutation or can increase the rate of mutation
Mycoplasma - any of a group of small parasitic bacteria that lack a cell walls and can survive without oxygen; can cause pneumonia and urinary tract infection
mycotoxin - a toxin produced by a fungus
Myelitis - inflammation of the spinal cord
Myocardial infarction - destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle
Myocarditis - inflammation of the myocardium (the muscular tissue of the heart)
Myositis - inflammation of muscle tissue
mythology - the study of myths; myths collectively; the body of stories associated with a culture or institution or person
Naltrexone - an oral antagonist against the action of opiates
Natural childbirth - labor and childbirth without medical intervention; no drugs are given to relieve pain or aid the birth process
Naturopathy - a method of treating disease using food and exercise and heat to assist the natural healing process
Necrobiosis - (physiology) the normal degeneration and death of living cells (as in various epithelial cells)
Necrophilia - an irresistible sexual attraction to dead bodies
Necrosis - the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)
Neophobia - a morbid fear of novelty
Neoplasm - an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose
Nephritis - an inflammation of the kidney
Nephthys - Egyptian goddess associated with ritual of the dead; sister of Geb and Nut; wife of Set
neuropsychology - the branch of psychology that is concerned with the physiological bases of psychological processes
Neurosyphilis - syphilis of the central nervous system
Newcastle - a port city in northeastern England on the River Tyne; a center for coal exports (giving rise to the expression `carry coals to Newcastle' meaning to do something unnecessary)
Nicotine poisoning - toxic condition caused by the ingestion or inhalation of large amounts of nicotine
Nicotine - an alkaloid poison that occurs in tobacco; used in medicine and as an insecticide
Night owl - a person who likes to be active late at night
Nightmare - a terrifying or deeply upsetting dream; a situation resembling a terrifying dream
Ningishzida - an underworld Babylonian deity; patron of medicine
Ninurta - a solar deity; firstborn of Bel and consort was Gula; god of war and the chase and agriculture; sometimes identified with biblical Nimrod
Nipple shield - a rubber or plastic shield to protect the nipples of nursing women
Nitpicking - quibbling over insignificant details
Nitrogen narcosis - confused or stuporous state caused by high levels of dissolved nitrogen in the blood
Nitrous oxide - inhalation anesthetic used as an anesthetic in dentistry and surgery
Nocturnal emission - ejaculation during sleep (usually during a dream)
Nodule - a small node; (mineralogy) a small rounded lump of mineral substance (usually harder than the surrounding rock or sediment); small rounded wartlike protuberance on a plant
Noise pollution - annoying and potentially harmful environmental noise
Normalization - the imposition of standards or regulations
Northern Ireland - a division of the United Kingdom located on the northern part of the island of Ireland
Nuisance - (law) a broad legal concept including anything that disturbs the reasonable use of your property or endangers life and health or is offensive; a bothersome annoying person
Nurse practitioner - a registered nurse who has received special training and can perform many of the duties of a physician
Nursing home - an institution where people are cared for
Nursing - the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm; nourishing at the breast; the profession of a nurse
Nutrient - of or providing nourishment; any substance that can be metabolized by an organism to give energy and build tissue
Nutritionist - a specialist in the study of nutrition
Obstetrics - the branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of the mother
Occupational disease - disease or disability resulting from conditions of employment (usually from long exposure to a noxious substance or from continuous repetition of certain acts)
Occupational hazard - any condition of a job that can result in illness or injury
Occupational therapy - physical therapy involving the therapeutic use of crafts and hobbies for the rehabilitation of handicapped or convalescing patients (especially for emotionally disturbed patients)
oculist - a medical doctor specializing in the treatment of diseases of the eye; a person skilled in testing for defects of vision in order to prescribe corrective glasses
Ohmmeter - a meter for measuring electrical resistance in ohms
Oil refinery - a refinery for petroleum
Oligosaccharide - any of the carbohydrates that yield only a few monosaccharide molecules on complete hydrolysis
One upmanship - the practice of keeping one jump ahead of a friend or competitor
Ontario - a prosperous and industrialized province in central Canada; the smallest of the Great Lakes
Oophorectomy - surgical removal of one of both ovaries
Oophoritis - inflammation of one or both ovaries
Opinion poll - an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people
Optician - a worker who makes glasses for remedying defects of vision
Oral cancer - malignant neoplasm of the lips of mouth; most common in men over the age of 60
Orchitis - inflammation of one or both testes; characterized by pain and swelling
Orderliness - the quality of appreciating method and system; a condition of regular or proper arrangement
Organic brain syndrome - mental abnormality resulting from disturbance of the structure or function of the brain
Ortolan bunting - brownish Old World bunting often eaten as a delicacy
Osteitis - inflammation of a bone as a consequence of infection or trauma or degeneration
Osteomalacia - abnormal softening of bones caused by deficiencies of phosphorus or calcium or vitamin D
Osteopath - a therapist who manipulates the skeleton and muscles
Osteoporosis - abnormal loss of bony tissue resulting in fragile porous bones attributable to a lack of calcium; most common in postmenopausal women
Otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear; common in children
outbreak - a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)
Outburst - a sudden violent disturbance; a sudden violent happening; an unrestrained expression of emotion
Ovarian cyst - a cystic tumor (usually benign) of the ovary
Ovary - (vertebrates) one of usually two organs that produce ova and secrete estrogen and progesterone; the organ that bears the ovules of a flower
Overeating - eating to excess (personified as one of the deadly sins)
Overweight - usually describes a large person who is fat but has a large frame to carry it; the property of excessive fatness
Overwork - the act of working too much or too long; use too much; work excessively hard
Ovulation - the expulsion of an ovum from the ovary (usually midway in the menstrual cycle)
Oxycephaly - a congenital abnormality of the skull; the top of the skull assumes a cone shape
Oxytocin - hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitocin); stimulates contractions of the uterus and ejection of milk
Oxytocin - hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitocin); stimulates contractions of the uterus and ejection of milk
Pablo Neruda - Chilean poet (1904 1973)
Pacing - walking with slow regular strides; (music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
Painting - the occupation of a house painter; the act of applying paint to a surface; creating a picture with paints; graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
Palatability - acceptability to the mind or feelings; the property of being acceptable to the mouth
Pallbearer - one of the mourners carrying the coffin at a funeral
Pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas; usually marked by abdominal pain
Pandemic - existing everywhere; epidemic over a wide geographical area; an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world
Pandora - (Greek mythology) the first woman; created by Hephaestus on orders from Zeus who presented her to Epimetheus along with a box filled with evils
Parallel processing - simultaneous processing by two or more processing units
Paramedic - a person trained to assist medical professionals and to give emergency medical treatment
Parametritis - inflammation of connective tissue adjacent to the uterus
Parasitic worm - worm that is parasitic on the intestines of vertebrates especially roundworms and tapeworms and flukes
Paresis - a slight or partial paralysis
Parkinson's disease - a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by tremor and impaired muscular coordination
Paronychia - low growing annual or perennial herbs or woody plants; whitlowworts; infection in the tissues adjacent to a nail on a finger or toe
Parotitis - inflammation of one or both parotid glands
Parsonage - an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
Pasteurization - partial sterilization of foods at a temperature that destroys harmful microorganisms without major changes in the chemistry of the food
pathology - the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases; any deviation from a healthy or normal condition
Patricide - the murder of your father; a person who murders their father
Pear shaped - having a round shape tapered at one end; (of sounds) full and rich
Pederasty - sexual relations between a man and a boy (usually anal intercourse with the boy as a passive partner)
Pediatrics - the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of infants and children
Penetrating trauma - injury incurred when an object (as a knife or bullet or shrapnel) penetrates into the body
Penile implant - an implant that creates an artificial erection
pentobarbital - a barbiturate (trade name Nembutal) used as a sedative and hypnotic and antispasmodic
Pericarditis - inflammation of the pericardium
Periodontal disease - a disease that attacks the gum and bone and around the teeth
Peritonitis - inflammation of the peritoneum
Person - a human being; a human body (usually including the clothing); a grammatical category of pros and forms
personality - the complex of all the attributes behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental that characterize a unique individual; a person of considerable prominence
Perspective - the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer; a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
Pesticide poisoning - toxic condition resulting from ingesting or inhaling a pesticide
Phantom limb - the illusion that a limb still exists after it has been amputated
Pharmaceutics - the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines,
Pharmacist - a health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugs
Pharmacokinetics - the study of the action of drugs in the body: method and rate of excretion; duration of effect; etc.
pharmacology - the science or study of drugs: their preparation and properties and uses and effects
Pharmacy - the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines,; a retail shop where medicine and other articles are sold
Pharmacy - the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines,; a retail shop where medicine and other articles are sold
Pharyngitis - inflammation of the fauces and pharynx
Phenytoin - an anticonvulsant drug (trade name Dilantin) used to treat epilepsy and that is not a sedative
Philippines - an archipelago in the southwestern Pacific including some 7000 islands; a republic on the Philippine Islands; achieved independence from the United States in 1946
Philosopher's stone - a hypothetical substance that the alchemists believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold
Phimosis - an abnormal tightness of the foreskin preventing retraction over the glans
Phlebitis - inflammation of a vein (usually in the legs)
Photosynthesis - synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants)
phrenology - a now abandoned study of the shape of skull as indicative of the strengths of different faculties
Physical education - training in the development of and care for the human body; stresses athletics; includes hygiene
Physical fitness - good physical condition; being in shape or in condition
Physical therapy - therapy that uses physical agents: exercise and massage and other modalities
Physician - a licensed medical practitioner
physicist - a scientist trained in physics
physiology - processes and functions of an organism; the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms
Pituitary gland - the master gland of the endocrine system; located at the base of the brain
pituitary - of or relating to the pituitary gland; having abnormal size with overgrown extremities resulting from abnormal pituitary secretion; the master gland of the endocrine system; located at the base of the brain
Placebo - (Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead; an innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug
Placenta - the vascular structure in the uterus of most mammals providing oxygen and nutrients for and transferring wastes from the developing fetus; that part of the ovary of a flowering plant where the ovules form
Plethysmograph - a measuring instrument for measuring changes in volume of a part or organ or whole body (usually resulting from fluctuations in the amount of blood it contains)
Pleurisy - inflammation of the pleura of the lungs (especially the parietal layer)
Pneumoconiosis - chronic respiratory disease caused by inhaling metallic or mineral particles
Pneumonia - respiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma (excluding the bronchi) with congestion caused by viruses or bacteria or irritants
Pneumonia - respiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma (excluding the bronchi) with congestion caused by viruses or bacteria or irritants
Pneumonitis - inflammation of the lungs; caused by a virus or an allergic reaction
politician - a person active in party politics; a leader engaged in civil administration; a schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organization in sly or underhanded ways
Pollutant - waste matter that contaminates the water or air or soil
Polonium - a radioactive metallic element that is similar to tellurium and bismuth; occurs in uranium ores but can be produced by bombarding bismuth with neutrons in a nuclear reactor
Polydipsia - excessive thirst (as in cases of diabetes or kidney dysfunction)
Polygonatum - sometimes placed in subfamily Convallariaceae
Polymyositis - myositis characterized by weakness of limb and neck muscles and much muscle pain and swelling; progression and severity vary among individuals
Polyunsaturated fatty acid - an unsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has more than one double or triple valence bond per molecule; found chiefly in fish and corn and soybean oil and safflower oil
Pork barrel - a legislative appropriation designed to ingratiate legislators with their constituents
Potassium alum - a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the potassium double sulfate of aluminum
Power of attorney - a legal instrument authorizing someone to act as the grantor's agent
Pre eclampsia - abnormal state of pregnancy characterized by hypertension and fluid retention and albuminuria; can lead to eclampsia if untreated
PRECEDE - furnish with a preface or introduction; move ahead (of others) in time or space; be the predecessor of; come before; be earlier in time; go back further
Pregnancy test - a physiological test to determine whether a person is pregnant
Pregnancy - the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
Premature ejaculation - ejaculation during the early stages of sexual excitement or soon after the insertion of the penis into the vagina
Premenstrual syndrome - a syndrome that occurs in many women from 2 to 14 days before the onset of menstruation
Preparedness - the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
Presbyopia - farsightedness resulting from a reduced ability to focus caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens with age
Prescription drug - a drug that is available only with written instructions from a doctor or dentist to a pharmacist
Priapism - condition in which the penis is continually erect; usually painful and seldom with sexual arousal
Primary care physician - the physician who provides primary care
Primary care - the medical care received on first contact with the medical system (before being referred elsewhere)
Primary health care - health care that is provided by a health care professional in the first contact of a patient with the health care system
Primary Health Care - health care that is provided by a health care professional in the first contact of a patient with the health care system
Princess of Wales - English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961 1997)
Principal investigator - the scientist in charge of an experiment or research project
Procrastination - the act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or defering an action to a later time; slowness as a consequence of not getting around to it
Proctitis - inflammation of the rectum; marked by bloody stools and a frequent urge to defecate; frequently associated with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
Progesterone - a steroid hormone (trade name Lipo Lutin) produced in the ovary; prepares and maintains the uterus for pregnancy
Projective test - any personality test designed to yield information about someone's personality on the basis of their unrestricted response to ambiguous objects or situations
Prolactin - gonadotropic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary; in females it stimulates growth of the mammary glands and lactation after parturition
propaganda - information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause
Prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland characterized by perineal pain and irregular urination and (if severe) chills and fever
Proximate - very close in space or time; closest in degree or order (space or time) especially in a chain of causes and effects
pseudoscience - an activity resembling science but based on fallacious assumptions
psychiatric hospital - a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person
Psychiatry - the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
Psychologist - a scientist trained in psychology
psychology - the science of mental life
Psychometrics - any branch of psychology concerned with psychological measurements
Psychonomics - the branch of psychology that uses experimental methods to study psychological issues
Psychopomp - a conductor of souls to the afterworld
Ptosis - drooping of the upper eyelid caused by muscle paralysis and weakness
Public toilet - a toilet that is available to the public
Putrefaction - a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor; moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles; (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
Pyelonephritis - inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis caused by bacterial infection
Pyridoxamine - a B vitamin that is essential for metabolism of amino acids and starch
Quackery - medical practice and advice based on observation and experience in ignorance of scientific findings; the dishonesty of a charlatan
Quality of life - your personal satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with the cultural or intellectual conditions under which you live (as distinct from material comfort)
Quality of life - your personal satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with the cultural or intellectual conditions under which you live (as distinct from material comfort)
Quickening - the process of showing signs of life; the stage of pregnancy at which the mother first feels the movements of the fetus; the act of accelerating; increasing the speed
Radiation therapy - (medicine) the treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to a radioactive substance
Radiobiology - the branch of biology that studies the effects of radiation on living organisms
Radiosensitivity - sensitivity to the action of radiant energy
Rapport - a relationship of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people
Recliner - an armchair whose back can be lowered and foot can be raised to allow the sitter to recline in it
reformer - an apparatus that reforms the molecular structure of hydrocarbons to produce richer fuel; a disputant who advocates reform
Refractometer - measuring instrument for measuring the refractive index of a substance
Refractory period - (neurology) the time after a neuron fires or a muscle fiber contracts during which a stimulus will not evoke a response
Regimen - (medicine) a systematic plan for therapy (often including diet)
Registered nurse - a graduate nurse who has passed examinations for registration
Regurgitation - recall after rote memorization; backflow of blood through a defective heart valve; the reflex act of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth
Reiter's syndrome - an inflammatory syndrome (etiology unknown) predominantly in males; characterized by arthritis and conjunctivitis and urethritis
Relapsing - a failure to maintain a higher state
Relaxin - hormone secreted by the corpus luteum during the last days of pregnancy; relaxes the pelvic ligaments and prepares the uterus for labor
Reliability - the quality of being dependable or reliable
Religion - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; an institution to express belief in a divine power
Reproducibility - the quality of being reproducible
Reserve clause - a clause that used to be part of the contract with a professional athlete extending the contract for a year beyond its expiration
Residency - the position of physician who is receiving special training in a hospital (usually after completing an internship); the act of dwelling in a place
Respiratory tract infection - any infection of the respiratory tract
Restless legs syndrome - feeling of uneasiness and restlessness in the legs after going to bed (sometimes causing insomnia); may be relieved temporarily by walking or moving the legs
Resurrection - a revival from inactivity and disuse; (New Testament) the rising of Christ on the third day after the Crucifixion
Revised - improved or brought up to date; altered or revised by rephrasing or by adding or deleting material
Rhabdomyoma - benign rumor of striated muscle
Rheumatic fever - a severe disease chiefly of children and characterized by painful inflammation of the joints and frequently damage to the heart valves
Rhinitis - an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose (usually associated with nasal discharge)
Rhizobiaceae - a small family of rod shaped bacteria
Rigor mortis - muscular stiffening that begins 2 to 4 hours after death and last for about 4 days; temporary stiffness of joints and muscular rigidity occurring after death
Roadkill - the dead body of an animal that has been killed on a road by a vehicle
rocket engineer - an engineer who builds and tests rockets
Rolled oats - meal made from rolled or ground oats
Root rot - disease characterized by root decay; caused by various fungi
Roseola - any red eruption of the skin
Roswell - a town in southeast New Mexico
Rotavirus - the reovirus causing infant enteritis
Royal jelly - a secretion of the pharyngeal glands of bees that is fed to very young larvae and to bees destined to be queens
Rubella - a contagious viral disease that is a milder form of measles lasting three or four days; can be damaging to a fetus during the first trimester
Rurality - a rural characteristic or trait
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - used as a leaven in baking and brewing
Saddle sore - (of a rider) sore after riding a horse
Safe sex - sexual activity (especially sexual intercourse) with the use of measures (such as latex condoms) to avoid the transmission of disease (especially AIDS)
Safeguard - a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.; a document or escort providing safe passage through a region especially in time of war; make safe; escort safely
Safety lamp - an oil lamp that will not ignite flammable gases (methane)
Safety valve - a valve in a container in which pressure can build up (as a steam boiler); it opens automatically when the pressure reaches a dangerous level
Salad bowl - a large bowl for mixing and serving a salad; a plate or bowl for individual servings of salad
Sanitation - making something sanitary (free of germs) as by sterilizing; the state of being clean and conducive to health
Scarlet fever - an acute communicable disease (usually in children) characterized by fever and a red rash
Schema - an internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world; a schematic or preliminary plan
Schick test - a skin test for immunity to diphtheria
Schiller - German romantic writer (1759 1805)
Schizothymia - resembling schizophrenia but remaining within the bounds of normality
schooner - sailing vessel used in former times; a large beer glass
Scientific - conforming with the principles or methods used in science; of or relating to the practice of science
scientist - a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
Scleritis - inflammation of the sclera
Scotland - one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
Sedimentation - the phenomenon of sediment or gravel accumulating
Selene - a genus of Carangidae; (Greek mythology) goddess of the moon in ancient mythology; identified with Roman Luna
Self abasement - voluntary self punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing
Self esteem - a feeling of pride in yourself; the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
Self help - the act of helping or improving yourself without relying on anyone else
Self interest - concern for your own interests and welfare; taking advantage of opportunities without regard for the consequences for others
Self pity - a feeling of sorrow (often self indulgent) over your own sufferings
Self preservation - preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
Semen - the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
Senescence - the property characteristic of old age; the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age
Senna obtusifolia - cosmopolitan tropical herb or subshrub with yellow flowers and slender curved pods; a weed; sometimes placed in genus Cassia
September - the month following August and preceding October
Septic tank - large tank where solid matter or sewage is disintegrated by bacteria
Serology - the branch of medical science that deals with serums; especially with blood serums and disease
Services - performance of duties or provision of space and equipment helpful to others
Sewerage - a waste pipe that carries away sewage or surface water; waste matter carried away in sewers or drains
Sexual intercourse - the act of sexual procreation between a man and a woman; the man's penis is inserted into the woman's vagina and excited until orgasm and ejaculation occur
sexual practice - activities associated with sexual intercourse
Shaker - a container in which something can be shaken; a member of Christian group practicing celibacy and communal living and common possession of property and separation from the world; a person who wields power and influence
Shelf life - the length of time a packaged food or drug will last without deteriorating
Sheltered workshop - a workshop that offers jobs to members of the physically or developmentally disabled population
Sheriff - the principal law enforcement officer in a county
shipwreck - a wrecked ship (or a part of one); an accident that destroys a ship at sea; an irretrievable loss; destroy a ship; cause to experience shipwreck; suffer failure, as in some enterprise; ruin utterly
short story - a prose narrative shorter than a novel
Shrove Tuesday - the last day before Lent
Sialadenitis - inflammation of the salivary glands
Side dish - a dish that is served with but is subordinate to a main course
Silicosis - a lung disease caused by inhaling particles of silica or quartz or slate
Sinusitis - inflammation of one of the paranasal sinuses
Skin test - any test to determine immunity or sensitivity to a disease by introducing small amounts on or into the skin
Skull and crossbones - emblem warning of danger or death
Sky burial - a traditional Tibetan funeral ritual in which the corpse is exposed to the open air to be eaten by sacred vultures
Sleep learning - teaching during sleep (as by using recordings to teach a foreign language to someone who is asleep)
Sleepover - an occasion of spending a night away from home or having a guest spend the night in your home (especially as a party for children)
Slingshot - a plaything consisting of a Y shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones
Smoking jacket - a man's soft jacket usually with a tie belt; worn at home
Smoking room - room in a hotel or club set apart for smokers
smoking - emitting smoke in great volume; the act of smoking tobacco or other substances; a hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion
Sobriety - abstaining from excess; moderation in or abstinence from alcohol or other drugs; a manner that is serious and solemn; the state of being sober and not intoxicated by alcohol
social psychology - the branch of psychology that studies persons and their relationships with others and with groups and with society as a whole
social reformer - a disputant who advocates reform
Social work - any of various services designed to aid the poor and aged and to increase the welfare of children
Society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization; the fashionable elite; a formal association of people with similar interests; the state of being with someone
Soft diet - a diet that does not require chewing; advised for those with intestinal disorders
software - (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory
solicitor - a British lawyer who gives legal advice and prepares legal documents; a petitioner who solicits contributions or trade or votes
South Carolina - a state in the Deep South; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the British colonies that formed the United States
South Korea - a republic in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948
Space medicine - the branch of medicine concerned with the effects of space flight on human beings
Speculum - a medical instrument for dilating a bodily passage or cavity in order to examine the interior; a mirror (especially one made of polished metal) for use in an optical instrument
speech therapist - a therapist who treats speech defects and disorders
Sperm bank - a depository for storing sperm
Sperm oil - an animal oil found in the blubber of the sperm whale
Spermatid - an immature gamete produced by a spermatocyte; develops into a spermatozoon
Spermatozoon - the male reproductive cell; the male gamete
Spinnbarkeit - the capacity of a viscous liquid (especially the cervical mucus) to be drawn out into a strand or blown up into a bubble
Splint - an orthopedic mechanical device used to immobilize and protect a part of the body (as a broken leg); a thin sliver of wood; support with a splint
Sprinkles - bits of sweet chocolate used as a topping on e.g. ice cream
Stabbing - causing physical or especially psychological injury; as physically painful as if caused by a sharp instrument
Stalker - someone who stalks game; someone who walks with long stiff strides; someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
Standard of living - a level of material comfort in terms of goods and services available to someone or some group
Standard operating procedure - a prescribed procedure to be followed routinely
Stanford - United States railroad executive and founder of Stanford University (1824 1893); a university in California
Stanton - United States suffragist and feminist; called for reform of the practices that perpetuated sexual inequality (1815 1902)
Starvation - the act of depriving of food or subjecting to famine; a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period
statistician - someone versed in the collection and interpretation of numerical data (especially someone who uses statistics to calculate insurance premiums); a mathematician who specializes in statistics
statistics - a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters
steamboat - a boat propelled by a steam engine
Sterilization - the procedure of making some object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms (usually by heat or chemical means); the act of making an organism barren or infertile (unable to reproduce)
Stigma - a skin lesion that is a diagnostic sign of some disease; an external tracheal aperture in a terrestrial arthropod; the apical end of the style where deposited pollen enters the pistil; a symbol of disgrace or infamy
Stillbirth - a natural loss of the products of conception
Stomatitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth
Straight razor - a razor with a straight cutting edge enclosed in a case that forms a handle when the razor is opened for use
Stressor - any agent that causes stress to an organism
Stretcher bearer - one who helps carry a stretcher
Stretching - act of expanding by lengthening or widening; exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extent
Styrene - a colorless oily liquid; the monomer for polystyrene
Sudden infant death syndrome - sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep
Suicide - the act of killing yourself; a person who kills himself intentionally
Sunglasses - spectacles that are darkened or polarized to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun
Superfecundation - fertilization of two or more ova released during the same menstrual cycle by sperm from separate acts of coitus (especially by different males)
Superfetation - fertilization of a second ovum after a pregnancy has begun; results in two fetuses of different ages in the uterus at the same time
Surgeon general - the senior medical officer in an army or navy; the head of the United States Public Health Service
Surgeon - a physician who specializes in surgery
surveillance system - a closed circuit television system used to maintain close observation of a person or group
Sweetness - the property of tasting as if it contains sugar; the quality of giving pleasure; a pleasingly sweet olfactory property; the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth
Swimmer's itch - a sensitization reaction to repeated invasion of the skin by cercariae of schistosomes
Swine influenza - an acute and highly contagious respiratory disease of swine caused by the orthomyxovirus thought to be the same virus that caused the 1918 influenza pandemic
Syndrome - a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease
Synovitis - inflammation of the synovial membrane that lines a synovial joint; results in pain and swelling
Syphilis - a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta)
Tannin - any of various complex phenolic substances of plant origin; used in tanning and in medicine
Tap water - water directly from the spigot
Tarantism - a nervous disorder characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance; popularly attributed to bite of the southern European tarantula or wolf spider
Tardive dyskinesia - involuntary rolling of the tongue and twitching of the face or trunk or limbs; often occurs in patients with Parkinsonism who are treated with phenothiazine
Taxidermy - the art of mounting the skins of animals so that they have lifelike appearance
Tear gas - a gas that makes the eyes fill with tears but does not damage them; used in dispersing crowds
Teething - the eruption through the gums of baby teeth
Teleport - transport by dematerializing at one point and assembling at another
Tennis elbow - painful inflammation of the tendon at the outer border of the elbow resulting from overuse of lower arm muscles (as in twisting of the hand)
Tenonitis - inflammation of a tendon
Tenosynovitis - inflammation of a tendon and its enveloping sheath
Teratology - the branch of biology concerned with the development of malformations or serious deviations from the normal type of organism
Testicle - one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens
Testicular cancer - malignant tumor of the testis; usually occurring in older men
Thailand - a country of southeastern Asia that extends southward along the Isthmus of Kra to the Malay peninsula
Thalidomide - a sedative and hypnotic drug; withdrawn from sale after discovered to cause severe birth defects because it inhibits angiogenesis
Thanatology - the branch of science that studies death (especially its social and psychological aspects)
Thanksgiving - fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag; a short prayer of thanks before a meal
Thelarche - the start of breast development in a woman at the beginning of puberty
Therapy - (medicine) the act of caring for someone (as by medication or remedial training etc.)
Thermal pollution - harm to lakes and rivers resulting from the release of excessive waste heat into them
Thirst - a physiological need to drink; strong desire for something (not food or drink); feel the need to drink; have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
Thoracic outlet syndrome - tingling sensations in the fingers; caused by compression on a nerve supplying the arm
Thorium - a soft silvery white tetravalent radioactive metallic element; isotope 232 is used as a power source in nuclear reactors; occurs in thorite and in monazite sands
Thrombocytopenic purpura - purpura associated with a reduction in circulating blood platelets which can result from a variety of factors
Thrombophlebitis - phlebitis in conjunction with the formation of a blood clot (thrombus)
Thyroiditis - inflammation of the thyroid gland
Tinnitus - a ringing or booming sensation in one or both ears; a symptom of an ear infection or Meniere's disease
tobacco - leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion; aromatic annual or perennial herbs and shrubs
Toilet paper - a soft thin absorbent paper for use in toilets
Toluene - a colorless flammable liquid obtained from petroleum or coal tar; used as a solvent for gums and lacquers and in high octane fuels
Tonsillitis - inflammation of the tonsils (especially the palatine tonsils)
tortoise - usually herbivorous land turtles having clawed elephant like limbs; worldwide in arid area except Australia and Antarctica
Toxic waste - poisonous waste materials; can cause injury (especially by chemical means)
Toxicant - having the qualities or effects of a poison; any substance that causes injury or illness or death of a living organism
Toxicity - the degree to which something is poisonous; grave harmfulness or deadliness
Toxicology - the branch of pharmacology that deals with the nature and effects and treatments of poisons
Trace element - an element that occurs at very small quantities in the body but is nonetheless important for many biological processes
trade unionist - a worker who belongs to a trade union
tradition - an inherited pattern of thought or action; a specific practice of long standing
Trapping - stable gear consisting of a decorated covering for a horse, especially (formerly) for a warhorse
Trichinella spiralis - parasitic nematode occurring in the intestines of pigs and rats and human beings and producing larvae that form cysts in skeletal muscles
Trichinosis - infestation by trichina larvae that are transmitted by eating inadequately cooked meat (especially pork); larvae migrate from the intestinal tract to the muscles where they become encysted
Trichloroethylene - a heavy colorless highly toxic liquid used as a solvent to clean electronic components and for dry cleaning and as a fumigant; causes cancer and liver and lung damage
Triiodothyronine - thyroid hormone similar to thyroxine but with one less iodine atom per molecule and produced in smaller quantity; exerts the same biological effects as thyroxine but is more potent and briefer
Trisomy - chrosomal abnormality in which there is one more than the normal number of chromosomes in a cell
Tryptophan - an amino acid that occurs in proteins; is essential for growth and normal metabolism; a precursor of niacin
Tuberculosis - infection transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of tubercle bacilli and manifested in fever and small lesions (usually in the lungs but in various other parts of the body in acute stages)
Tumescence - tumidity resulting from the presence of blood or other fluid in the tissues
Turkish tobacco - a dark aromatic tobacco of eastern Europe that is used in cigarettes
Ulcerative colitis - a serious chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine and rectum characterized by recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and fever and chills and profuse diarrhea
Underworld - the criminal class; (religion) the world of the dead
urban legend - a story that appears mysteriously and spreads spontaneously in various forms and is usually false; contains elements of humor or horror and is popularly believed to be true
Ureteritis - inflammation of the ureter
Urethritis - inflammation of the urethra; results in painful urination
Urethrocele - prolapse of the urethra into the vagina
Urinary incontinence - inability to control the flow of urine and involuntary urination
Urinary tract infection - any infection of any of the organs of the urinary tract
Uterine contraction - a rhythmic tightening in labor of the upper uterine musculature that contracts the size of the uterus and pushes the fetus toward the birth canal
Uterus - a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females; contains the developing fetus
Uveitis - inflammation of the uvea of the eye
Uxoricide - the murder of a wife by her husband; a husband who murders his wife
Vaccination - the scar left following inoculation with a vaccine; taking a vaccine as a precaution against contracting a disease
Vaccine - immunogen consisting of a suspension of weakened or dead pathogenic cells injected in order to stimulate the production of antibodies
Vagina - the lower part of the female reproductive tract; a moist canal in female mammals extending from the labia minora to the uterus
Vaginismus - muscular contraction that causes the vagina to close; usually an anxiety reaction before coitus or pelvic examination
Vaginitis - inflammation of the vagina (usually associated with candidiasis)
Validation - the act of validating; finding or testing the truth of something; the cognitive process of establishing a valid proof
Validity - the quality of having legal force or effectiveness; the quality of being logically valid
Vampire - (folklore) a corpse that rises at night to drink the blood of the living
Varicocele - dilatation of the veins associated with the spermatic cord in the testes
Vasculitis - inflammation of a blood vessel
Vegetarianism - a diet excluding all meat and fish
Ventricular fibrillation - fibrillation of heart muscles resulting in interference with rhythmic contractions of the ventricles and possibly leading to cardiac arrest
vessel - a craft designed for water transportation; an object used as a container (especially for liquids); a tube in which a body fluid circulates
Video game - a game played against a computer
Virginia Woolf - English author whose work used such techniques as stream of consciousness and the interior monologue; prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group (1882 1941)
Virginity - the condition or quality of being a virgin
Vitamin - any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism
Vocational rehabilitation - providing training in a specific trade with the aim of gaining employment
Voyager - a traveler to a distant land (especially one who travels by sea)
Wandering Jew - a legendary Jew condemned to roam the world for mocking Jesus at the Crucifixion
War crime - a crime committed in wartime; violation of rules of war
Warner - someone who gives a warning to others; United States filmmaker who with his brothers founded the movie studio that produced the first talking picture (1881 1958)
Washing - the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water); garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
Wastewater - water mixed with waste matter
Water pollution - pollution of the water in rivers and lakes
Water supply - a facility that provides a source of water
Water Supply - a facility that provides a source of water
Water table - underground surface below which the ground is wholly saturated with water
Watering can - a container with a handle and a spout with a perforated nozzle; used to sprinkle water over plants
Waterskin - a container of skin for holding water
Weaning - the act of substituting other food for the mother's milk in the diet of a child or young mammal
Webcam - a digital camera designed to take digital photographs and transmit them over the internet
website - a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web
Weightlessness - the property of being comparatively small in weight
Weightlifting - bodybuilding by exercise that involves lifting weights
Welfare - governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need; something that aids or promotes well being; a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
Well being - a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
Wellness - a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
Wernicke - German neurologist best known for his studies of aphasia (1848 1905)
Wet nurse - a woman hired to suckle a child of someone else; give suck to
Whale oil - a white to brown oil obtained from whale blubber; formerly used as an illuminant
whaler - a ship engaged in whale fishing; a seaman who works on a ship that hunts whales
Wheatgrass - a grass of the genus Agropyron
Wheelchair - a movable chair mounted on large wheels; for invalids or those who cannot walk; frequently propelled by the occupant
White Lead - a poisonous white pigment that contains lead
Whitlow - a purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area surrounding the nail
Whooping cough - a disease of the respiratory mucous membrane
Wildfire - a raging and rapidly spreading conflagration
Wilson's disease - a rare inherited disorder of copper metabolism; copper accumulates in the liver and then in the red blood cells and brain
Wilting - causing to become limp or drooping
Wine tasting - a gathering of people to taste and compare different wines
Witch hunt - searching out and harassing dissenters
Woodcock - game bird of the sandpiper family that resembles a snipe
Workmen's Compensation - compensation for death or injury suffered by a worker in the course of his employment
Workplace - a place where work is done
World Health Organization - a United Nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services
Writer's cramp - muscular spasms of thumb and forefinger while writing with a pen or pencil
Wyoming - a state in the western United States; mountainous in the west and north with the Great Plains in the east
Xylene - a colorless flammable volatile liquid hydrocarbon used as a solvent
Y chromosome - the sex chromosome that is carried by men
Younger - used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals; all the animal life in a particular region or period
Zoonosis - an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans
Zoophobia - a morbid fear of animals
Zygote - the cell resulting from the union of an ovum and a spermatozoon (including the organism that develops from that cell)

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World Health Organization (WHO) - For global health terminology and definitions.
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