M
From CleanPosts
Macadamising
Macadamising was a system of road-making invented by John Macadam in 1819
involving the use of stones broken to six ounces weight and the use of clean
flints and granite chippings.
MacDraw II
MacDraw II, the enhanced version of MacDraw by Claris, includes all the
functionality of MacDraw and is well-suited for graphic designs, diagrams,
floor plans, engineering applications, and low-end CAD applications. The
product includes a slide manager that lets you create a rolling slide show on
images on-screen and a slides title-sorter to rename and reorder slides. You
can also create notes to attach to a document and can optionally be displayed
on-screen or printed. MacDraw II is very fast and offers scrolling and keyboard
shortcuts. Advanced features for precise and intricate design tasks include a
layering capability that lets you create documents with unlimited overlapping,
hidden transparent layers, and the ability to rearrange them in any order. A
zoom capability lets you work on documents up to 32 times their original size.
The ruler settings can be customised and set to draw with an accuracy of 2,000
dpi. Objects and text can be rotated a full 360 degrees in increments as small
as 1/100 of a degree. Pen widths can be fully customized from zero to one and a
half inches with an accuracy of four decimal places. You can have up to 255 pen
widths per drawing. MacDraw II has strong text and precision capabilities. You
can customise your font sizes and line spaces from 1 to 127 points and
paragraphs and notes can have multiple type fonts, sizes, and styles. Unlike
MacDraw, MacDraw II lets you edit text by single letters. A 100,000-word
interactive spell checker is included. MacDraw II includes a library feature
that lets you name created objects, store them in the library, and recall them
from anywhere within the application. Corporate logos, component parts, and
symbols need only be created once.
MacLinkPlus/PC
MacLinkPlus/PC by Dataviz is an advanced file-transfer and translation software
program that provides built-in communications. The program is designed to allow
seamless file exchange between Macintoshes and IBM PCs or Macintoshes and
Macintoshes. It can be used with modems or cable and includes software for both
the Macintosh and the PC. The package includes a serial cable to connect a PC
(25-pin) to Mac SE, Mac Plus or Mac II (8-pin DIN). If you are using a Mac 128
or 512, which uses 9-pin serial ports, Dataviz includes a card that can be sent
in, with the original cable, to exchange for the correct cable. The package's
file translation capabilities provide a clean conversion of file format and
contents, including control codes, spreadsheet formulas, and databases.
Translations are supported between application formats such as MacWrite,
Microsoft Excel, Lotus, Microsoft Word, MultiMate, WordStar, WordPerfect,
OfficeWriter, dBase, and DIF. If you have PCs and Macintoshes sharing files
over an AppleTalk network, MacLinkPlus/PC offers a local mode to provide file
transfer and translation over network cabling. The product supports batch file
transfers. One window displays hard disks, folders, and files on the Macintosh,
while another window displays similar information on the PC. MacLinkPlus/PC
includes a special communications mode to allow your Macintosh to dial or
hard-wire to systems that support ASCII TTY or XMODEM communications. You can
use this mode interactively with local mode, translating files in local mode
before sending them or after receiving them from a remote system.
Macrocephalia
Macrocephalia is the medical condition of having an excessively large head.
MacroMind Director
MacroMind Director gives users with artistic talent the power of a production
department at their desk. The product lets you combine and manipulate text,
graphics, animation, and video. These elements can be synchronised with music
and sound effects for on-screen presentations, video productions, product
prototypes, and the simulation of complex processes and concepts. The product
provides several features that allow you to make impressive productions
quickly. However, creating your own animations and special effects takes some
time. MacroMind Director is made up of two major parts, Overview and Studio.
Like the director of a movie, Overview controls the sequence and timing of a
presentation-up to 30 frames per second. You create a document that references
a group of other documents that will be part of the presentation. Overview
makes sure that all the documents are available and make it to the screen on
time, stay on-screen for as long as needed, get off the screen, and remain
ready, if necessary, for a later appearance. Studio offers the tools needed to
create multimedia presentations. Included is a comprehensive painting program,
image import functions, and animation commands that control image positioning,
sequence, the relationship of images to each other on the screen, and sound
effects. The Auto Animate feature provides quick access to several animated
text effects where text can be entered and choices can be made about the type
of effect, tempo, and colour. The Transitions feature provides a number of
precreated methods to move from one image to another including dissolves,
reveals, wipes, and pushes. Both of these features quickly add
professional-looking effects to presentations. MacroMind Player is a run-time
version of Director which allows a presentation to be distributed to other
users, even if they do not have Director on their Macintosh.
Madrasso
Madrasso, also known as Mandrasso or Magrasso, is perhaps the most popular and
widespread card game in Venice and the surrounding region, where it has over
the last 50 years practically replaced the older game Scarabocion. In the
ranking and values of cards and the presence of a trump suit it is related to
Briscola, but because the necessity to follow suit (as in Tressette) Madrasso
offers greater scope for sophisticated card play technique. There are four
players, two against two in fixed partnerships, partners facing each other. A
40 card Italian pack is used - for authenticity it should be the Venetian
pattern, also known as Trevigiane.
Madura Foot
see "Mycetoma"
Magenta
Magenta (fuchsine, rosein, harmaline or aniline red) is the hydrochloride of
rosaniline, an aniline dye.
Magnadur
Magnadur is a cermaic material used for making permanent magnets. It consists
basically of sintered oxide of iron and oxide of barium, and is therefore
non-mettalic, although possessing ferro-magnetic properties. Because of its
ceramic structure it is a good electrical insulator.
Magnesia
see "Magnesium oxide"
Magnesian
see "Magnesium oxide"
Magnesium
Magnesium is a metal element with the symbol Mg that burns with a very bright
white light.
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide is formed when magnesium is burnt in the air. It is a white
powder that is used to treat acidity in the stomach.
Magnesium Peroxide
Magnesium peroxide is a white, tastless, water-insoluble powder used as an
antiseptic and as an oxidizing and bleaching agent.
Magnesium Silicate
Magnesium Silicate is a fine, white, odourless, tastless powder with variable
hydration. It is insoluble in both water and alcohol and is used as a rubber
filler, a bleaching agent, and odour absorber and in the manufacture of paints
and resins.
Magnesium Sulphate
see "Epsom Salts"
Magnet
A magnet is a piece of one of the so-called ferromagnetic materials which has
been magnetized, that is to say it has acquired, either permanently or
temporarily, the power of attracting or repelling other pieces of similar
material and of exerting a mechanical force on a neighbouring conductor
carrying an electric current.
Magnetostriction
Magnetostriction is small changes in the length of a piece of magnetic material
which accompany the process of magnetization.
Magnetron Effect
The magnetron effect is the deflexion of electrons emitted from a straight
filamentary or thin tubular thermionic cathode and accelerated towards a
co-axial cylindrical anode, the deflexion resulting from the application of an
axial magnetic field.
Malayalam
Malayalam is a Dravidian dialect closely related to Tamil and widely spoken on
the west coast of south India.
Malayalim
Malayalim is a Dravidian language allied to Tamil.
Maleic Acid
Maleic acid is a colourless, crystaline, water-soluble solid. It has an
astringent taste and faint acidulous odour. It is used in the manufacture of
synthetic resins, the dyeing and finishing of textiles, and as a preservative
for fats and oils.
Maleic Anhydride
Maleic anhydride is a colourless, crystalline, unsaturated compound that is
soluble in acetone and hydrolyses in water. It is used in the production of
polyester resins, pesticides, fumaric acid and tartaric acid.
Maleic Hydrazide
Maleic hydrazide is a cystalline compound used as a plant growth inhibitor and
weed-killer.
Malic acid
Malic acid is an organic compound extracted from fruits.
Malleable
Something which is malleable can be hammered into a new shape with out
fracturing or returning to its original shape.
Mallet
A mallet is a large and heavy hammer, usually made of wood.
Malonic Acid
Malonic acid is a white, crystalline, water-soluble dibasic acid easily
decomposed by heat and used chiefly as an intermediate in the synthesis of
barbiturates.
Maltol
Maltol (Larixinic acid) is a crystalline compound obtained from larch bark,
pine needles, chicory or roasted malt and used for enhancing flavours and
aromas in foods, wines and perfumes.
Maltose
Maltose is a sugar formed naturally from starch during the germination of
grain. It is two glucose molecules combined.
Mandolin
The mandolin is a stringed musical instrument descended from the lute.
Manganese
Manganese is a metal element with the symbol Mn.
Manna of St Nicholas of Bari
see "Aqua Tofana"
Mansbridge Capacitor
A Mansbridge capacitor is an electronic capactitor having metal foil plates and
paper dielectric and so designed that, should the insulation break down to
puncture of the dielectric, the discharge between the plates at the seat of the
breakdown oxidises the metal and thus restores the insulation resistance.
Manx
Manx is a dialect of Gaelic once spoken in the Isle Of Man.
Mao
Mao is a recent addition to the Eights group of card games, which is especially
popular in the USA. The main feature of Mao which distinguishes it from its
predecessors is that there is a rule against explaining or asking about the
rules. New players are expected to join a game and deduce the rules of play by
observation, trial and error.
Margerine
see "Butterine"
Margerine Act
The Margerine Act of 1887 declared that butterine, and other substances like
butter must be termed margerine. The term butter being restricted to the
product of milk or cream, or both.
Marias
Marias is the most popular card game in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia. It
exists in versions for 2, 3 and 4 players and is played with a German suited 32
card pack. It is closely related to the Hungarian game Ulti.
Marine Society
The Marine Society was an institution founded in 1756 by James Hanway for the
instruction and maintenance of boys for the navy. It instituted the first
training ship on the Thames in 1786, HMS Warspite which was burned in 1876
where upon the boys were removed to the Conqueror.
Mariolatry
Mariolatry is worship of the virgin Mary. It began in the 4th century and
greatly increased in the 10th.
Mariotte's Law
see "Boyle's Law"
Marjapussi
Marjapussi is a trick taking card game. There are no trumps at the start, but
if the side winning a trick hold the king and queen of a suit, they can make
that suit trumps. Trumps can change in this way several times during a hand.
Points are scored for cards won in tricks, for making trumps, and for winning
the last trick. Players bid according to how many points they think their side
can take. The partnership that wins the bidding is allowed to exchange some
cards and lead first, but they must take as least as many points as their
contract in order to score. The side which first reaches or exceeds 500 points
wins.
Maskador
Maskador is a tradename for para-di-chloro benzene
Masquerade
A masquerade is a party or dance at which fancy masks and costumes are worn.
Mass
In physics, mass is the quantity of matter which a body contains.
Master Disk
Master Disk by Rosenthal Engineering prepares PC floppy diskettes used as
masters for software duplication and distribution. Software duplicated from
these originals are more reliable and resistant to virus contamination. It
examines the diskette and drive for flaws and errors, and verifies the quality
and integrity as being suitable for use as the original master, fills unused
sectors and boot tracks with special security code. The documentation includes
extensive anti-virus test data.
MathCAD
MathCAD by MathSoft Inc. is a unique non-structured computer program that
allows you to work with numbers logically in an open, flexible environment. The
extraordinary calculating ability of MathCAD gives technical professionals the
opportunity to explore mathematical options unavailable through standard
spreadsheet-like programs. You enter equations and text anywhere and the
program formats the equations, checks for errors, and solves the equation.
Results may be displayed numerically or they may be plotted. Plots correspond
to mathematics and change in real-time as equations are modified. MathCAD
performs numerical operations on real and complex numbers. Precision is
automatically monitored to 15 digits. Trigonometric, hyperbolic, logarithmic,
and Bessel functions are built-in. Operators include absolute value, factorial,
square root, summations, and subscripted variables. The product performs
dimensional analysis automatically. You can solve systems of equations and
perform matrix arithmetic. MathCAD's text-editing capability makes it easy to
transform mathematical notes into specifications and document designs quickly
and accurately.
Matter
In chemistry, matter is anything which occupies space and has mass.
Mau-Mau
see "Crazy Eights"
Maund
The maund was a unit of measurement used in India around 1900. It is equivalent
to 40 seer.
Maw
Maw was a card game, popular in 16th century Britain, and an ancestor of a
group of games normally associated with Ireland and Irish communities abroad.
The descendants include Spoil Five and a series of games named after the number
of points required to win: 25, 45, 55, 110, 120.
Maxi Form
Maxi Form by Herne Data Systems Ltd is a floppy disk formatting program for the
PC that gives more space on a disk: 360k disks are expanded to 420k, 720
becomes 800k, 1.2 mb becomes 1.4 mb and 1.44 mb is boosted to 1.6 mb. The disks
are user transparent to DOS version 3.20 or later and can be used
interchangeably with normal DOS disks.
Maxwell
The maxwell is the c.g.s. unit of magnetic flux. It is now replaced by the SI
unit, the weber (one maxwell equals 10-8 weber). The maxwell is a very small
unit, representing a single line of magnetic flux. It is equal to the flux
through one square centimetre normal to a magnetic field with an intensity of
one gauss.
Maze
A maze is a confusing network of passages and winding interconnecting paths.
A maze was a British measurement for herring equal to 615 fish.
Meliorism
Meliorism is the doctrine that the world may be made better by human effort.
Melodeon
A melodeon is a type of accordion.
Melody
Melody is the tune of a piece of music.
Mendelevium
Mendelevium is an artificial metal radioactive element with the symbol Md.
Menispermine
Menispermine is an alkaloid discovered by Pelletier and Couerbe in the seeds of
Menispermum cocculus. It crystallizes in prisms and in insoluble in water but
soluble in alcohol and ether from which it deposits in the crystalline state.
Menkar
Menkar (Ceti) is the chief star of the constellation Cetus.
Menorah
A menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum used in Jewish worship.
Menthol
Menthol is an alcohol derivative of menthone and occurs in peppermint. It is
also known as menthylic alcohol and camphor of peppermint.
Menthylic alcohol
see "Menthol"
Mequin
see "Methaqualone"
Mercuric cyanide
Mercuric cyanide is a very poisonous compound prepared by dissolving yellow
mercuric oxide in aqueous hydrocyanic acid.
Mercury
Mercury is a dense, mobile, silvery liquid metal element, symbol Hg.
Mercury fulminate
Mercury fulminate is an explosive used in detonators and percussion caps.
Merman XXX
Merman XXX is a Scottish ale brewed with a mix of roast and crystal malts to a
19th century recipe by the Caledonian Brewing Company of Edinburgh.
Merry thought
A merry thought (or wish-bone) is the forked bone of a fowl's breast which is
used in sport bu unmarried persons, each taking hold of and pulling at one of
the forks, the possession of the longest piece being an omen of an early
marriage to the one who gets it. In other folk-lore, the holder of the longest
piece gets to make a wish.
Mesh
Mesh are an English PC manufacturer based in London with a reputation for
producing high specification computers at a low price for the retail market,
though they also operate a corporate wing for business customers. As of 1998
they are the sponsors of Charlton Athletic Football Club.
Mesh Elite 300H
The Mesh Elite 300H is an Intel Pentium II based PC. The CPU is clocked at 300
mhz and the PC is supplied with 128 mb of RAM, an 8 GB hard disk. CD-ROM, 17
inch monitor, 8 mb Hercules terminator 3d graphics card, Creative Labs PCI
sound card, 50 watt speakers and a 56 kbps modem.
Mesmerism
Mesmerism (or hypnosis) was a system popularised by Franz Anton Mesmer who
called it Animal Magnetism. He believed that the stars exercised an influence
over men, and identifying this with magnetism sought to effect cures by
stroking his patients with magnets. Finding that Gassner effected cures by
stroking with his hand, Mesmer abandoned the use of magnets. The Marquis de
Puysagur discovered that sleep could be induced by gentle manipulation and
pioneered the scientific study of mesmerism away from Memser's mysterious
approach.
Mesoderm
see "Germ layer"
Mesons
Mesons are charged particles observed in cosmic rays, and having rest masses
greater than that of an electron but less than that of a proton.
Mesural
Mesural is a tradename for Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride
Metal
Metal is a class of elements.
Meteor
A meteor is a small solid body which sails through space.
Meteorite
A meteorite is a piece of rock or metal from space.
Meteorograph
A meteorograph is an apparatus for registering the various changes in the
atmosphere in the form of a diagram. It was invented by father Secchi of Rome
who received a prize for it at the Paris International Exhibition in July 1867.
Methane
Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon. It is an odourless gas that is explosive
when mixed with oxygen.
Methanoic acid
Methanoic acid is a fuming liquid that occurs in stinging nettles.
Methanol
Methanol is the simplest alcohol having the formulae ch3oh.
Methodism
Methodism is a religious movement. It was founded by John Wesley, Charles
Wesley and George Whitfield in reaction to apathy within the Church of England.
Methyl aldehyde
see "Formaldehyde"
Methyl salicylate
Methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil) is the essential oil of Gaultheria
procumbens. It is an oily liquid with a pleasant smell used as a flavouring and
for the preparation of natural salicylic acid.
Methyl-aniline
see "Toluidine"
Methyl-benzene
see "Toluene"
Methyl-phenol
see "Cresol"
Methyl-propylphenol
see "Thymo"
Methyl-theobromine
see "Caffeine"
Methylethyl acetic acid
Methylethyl acetic acid is an isomeric variety of valeric acid found in plants.
Metronome
A metronome is a device for regulating time in the performance of music. The
first was patented in 1816.
Mezzotint
Mezzotint is a method of engraving on copper or steel.
Mho
Mho is the unit of conductance, the reciprocal of the ohm.
Miami Seahawks
see "Baltimore Colts"
Michigan
see "Boodle"
Michigan Rummy
see "Three in One"
Micrografx Designer
Micrografx Designer is a high-end illustration package that works under
Microsoft Windows. It is designed primarily for graphic artists and technical
illustrators who require tools beyond those found in the basic drawing
packages. Micrografx Designer offers all the basic drawing tools typically
found in drawing programs and includes features such as Bezier curves, curve
smoothing, parabolas, polylines, and layering normally found in CAD programs. A
freehand tool can be used to dynamically smooth and reduce the number of points
in Bezier curves. The product sizes, scales, and rotates graphics and text in
1/10 degree increments, draws standard shapes and fills them with colour or
patterns, and prints in colour or shades of gray. Micrografx Designer includes
an autotrace feature to trace almost any scanned image including images saved
in .PCX and TIFF format. This lets you create an object-oriented version that
can be resized without loss of image quality or proportionality, and printed at
high resolution. You also have the choice of tracing the entire image or only a
portion. A zoom feature lets you do detailed work with three levels of
magnification. Curves may be edited, smoothed, and unsmoothed.
Micrometer
A micrometer is an instrument for measuring minute lengths or angles with great
accuracy; different types of micrometer are used in astronomical and
engineering work. The type of micrometer used in astronomy consists of two fine
wires, one fixed and the other movable, placed in the focal plane of a
telescope; the movable wire is fixed on a sliding plate and can be positioned
parallel to the other until the object appears between the wires. The movement
is then indicated by a scale on the adjusting screw. The micrometer calliper,
of great value in engineering, has its adjustment effected by an extremely
accurate fine-pitch screw (vernier).
Micron
The micron is a unit of length equal to one thousandth part of a millimetre.
Microphone
A microphone is the first component in a sound recording system. It converts
sound waves into electrical energy. A simple microphone is the telephone
receiver mouthpiece.
Microsoft Chart
Microsoft Chart is a very visual, high-end business-charting package that
provides eight chart types in a total of 45 standard formats. Each format is
pictured in a series of illustrated menus called the gallery so you see exactly
how a chart type will look before you choose the format. The gallery shows
examples of area, bar, column, high-low, line, mixed, pie, and scatter charts.
Each chart type has five to eight standard formats from which to choose. Your
data is immediately displayed in the format you have selected. You can even
create a custom chart. If you find your data is not well-represented with the
chosen chart type, it is easy to switch between formats until you find the one
that best conveys the information you want to present. Because it is so easy to
switch from one graph type to another, Microsoft Chart is excellent for finding
the best fit between data and its graphic representation. Once you have found
the appropriate format, you can tailor your chart to meet your precise needs.
Microsoft Chart lets you improve the clarity of a chart by changing its four
components: axis, data, labels, or legend. Text can be tailored to your chart
by varying the font, size, location, or amount of text. You can even draw an
arrow from a note to the element of the chart to be noted. You also have full
flexibility to change the chart as a whole. For example, you can change size,
colours, pattern, position, or border. As you modify, move, size, position,
colour, and shade elements, you can watch the changes on the screen. To make
working even simpler, the program offers automatic scaling, spacing, and
centering for all elements of the chart. Microsoft Chart offers a hotlink
between your chart and a spreadsheet file, so you can set the charts to
automatically update when data in the originating program changes. Microsoft
Chart also has an editor for inputting and correcting data from the keyboard.
Microtome
A microtome is an instrument used for cutting very thin sections of organic
tissue for microscopic examination.
Mile
The mile is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length equivalent to
8 furlongs, 1760 yards or 1.6093 kilometres.
Militaire
see "Three-Day Event"
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the large, disk-shaped aggregation of stars, or galaxy , that
includes the sun and its solar system. Its name is derived from its appearance
as a faintly luminous band that stretches across earth's sky at night. This
band is the disk in which the solar system lies. Its hazy appearance results
from the combined light of stars too far away to be distinguished individually
by the unaided eye. The individual stars that are distinct in the sky are those
in the Milky Way galaxy that lie sufficiently close to the solar system to be
discerned separately. From the middle northern latitudes, the Milky Way is best
seen on clear, moonless, summer nights, when it appears as a luminous,
irregular band circling the sky from the northeastern to the southeastern
horizon. It extends through the constellations Perseus, Cassiopeia, and
Cepheus. In the region of the Northern Cross it divides into two streams: the
western stream, which is bright as it passes through the Northern Cross, fades
near Ophiuchus, or the Serpent Bearer, because of dense dust clouds, and
appears again in Scorpio; and the eastern stream, which grows brighter as it
passes southward through Scutum and Sagittarius. The brightest part of the
Milky Way extends from Scutum to Scorpio, through Sagittarius. The center is in
the direction of Sagittarius and is about 26,000 light-years from the sun.
Millennium
Millennium is a period of measurement being 1000 years.
Millennium Master
Millennium Master from MFX Research is a software package for the PC which can
change short date formats in all applications and data files by catching them
at the machine code level. The package claims to work with all custom and
bespoke applications, changing the dates to a year 2000 compliant format.
Mineral
A mineral is an element or compound occurring naturally due to inorganic
processes.
Ming
Ming is the name of the Chinese dynasty which ruled from 1368 to 1644.
Minuet
The Minuet is a dance which came to Paris in 1650 and reached its greatest
popularity in the reign of Louis XV. It combined gracefulness with ceremonial
formality.
Miocene
The Miocene was the sixteenth geological period, 25,000,000 years ago. The
first apes evolved.
Mirror-iron
see "Spiegel-eisen"
Miscible
In chemistry, miscible refers to being capable of being mixed.
Mittlere Jass
Mittlere Jass is an unusual Swiss Jass game for three players. It is a point
trick game, with the basic object of each hand being to avoid ending up with
the middle score. Mittlere is played with a 36-card jass pack. There are four
suits: acorns, shields, flowers, and bells. In each suit, there are nine cards:
ace (or sow), king, ober, under, banner, 9, 8, 7, 6. If you cannot obtain such
a pack, you can play it with a bridge or poker pack, using queens for obers,
jacks for unders, 10s for banners, and discarding cards smaller than 6s.
Mixture
In chemistry, a mixture is an aggregate of two or more substances which are not
chemically combined and which exist in no fixed proportion to one another.
Mizen
see "Mizzen"
Mizzen
A mizzen is the fore and aft sail on the after side of the mizzen-mast of a
three-masted ship.
MMX
MMX is a set of multimedia instructions built into Intel's microprocessors.
MMX-enabled microprocessors can handle many common multimedia operations, such
as as digital signal processing (DSP) that are normally handled by a separate
sound or video card.
Modem
Modem is a contraction of the term Modulator/Demodulator. It is a device that
modulates and demodulates signals on and off a carrier frequency. It is not
limited to computer data use, thus the telco-specific term data set for
data modems.
Modulation
Modulation is alterations in the characteristics of analog carrier waves,
impressed on the amplitude, phase and/or the frequency of the wave.
Molal solution
In chemistry, a molal solution is a solution containing one mole of a solute in
1,000 grams of solute.
Molar solution
In chemistry, a molar solution is a solution which contains 1 gram-molecular
weight of solute in one liter of solution.
Mole
In chemistry, a mole is the molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams.
Molecular weight
In chemistry, molecular weight is the sum of the atomic weights of all the
atoms in a molecule.
Molecule
A molecule is the smallest particle of any substance that can exist and still
exhibit the properties of the substance.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is a metal element with the symbol Mo.
Monday
Monday is the first day of the week.
Monosaccharide
Monosaccharide is a simple carbohydrate.
Monsoon
A monsoon is a seasonal wind occasioned by the deflection of permanent winds
from their normal path through the heating of a neighbouring land mass.
Month
The month is a unit of measurement of time based upon the motion of the moon
around the earth.
Moon
The moon is the natural satellite of the earth. It is 3476 km in diameter and
has a mass 1/8th that of the earth. It orbits the earth every 27.32 days.
Morals and Health Act
The Morals and Health Act was passed in 1802 as the first legislation in
Britain to improve the appaling conditions in British factories.
More
More by Symantec is a powerful outlining tool which integrates multiple
presentation capabilities. The program provides a variety of tools to plan,
organise, and produce presentations efficiently. More features advanced outline
for organizing ideas and information, a built-in word processor, drawing
capabilities, and an on-screen slide show function. More provides the ability
to use two monitors: one for the audience to display the presentation, and one
for the presenter to display speaker's notes, a mini view of the presentation,
and the time elapsed. More contains an outline processor that lets you gather,
sort, organise, and reorganise information in virtually limitless ways. Word
processing capabilities include wrapping headlines, headers and footers, page
breaks, rules, automatic on-screen labeling, and a 100,000-word spell checker.
More lets you create presentation-quality tree charts or bullet charts from
outlines. It maintains lists of things to do, client information, or your
personal calendar. More's powerful outline-editing feature lets you organise
ideas and rearrange outlines to suit your needs. You can expand and contract
sections, zoom in on a line, and add descriptive text. You can use templates to
save frequently used formats such as addresses or expenses. Several templates
are included or you can create your own. Similar to other desktop presentation
programs, More lets you create colour or black-and-white slide shows, overhead
transparencies, or hard copy complete with speaker's notes and audience
handouts. Templates increase the production speed of a presentation and slides
can be re-ordered from the outline or thumbnail sketch view. More can also be
used to create organisation charts. The spell checker and thesaurus included
with More can be used with other applications such as word processors that do
not contain a spell checker or thesaurus.
Moreen
Moreen is a fabric made from wool or wool and cotton in imitation of moire.
Moroxite
Moroxite is the crystallised form of apatite, occurring in crystals of a
brownish or greenish-blue colour.
Morse Code
Morse Code is a telegraphic code, devised by S. F. B. Morse, wherein letters,
figures etc. are represented by differing arrangements of long and short pulses
(dots and dashes).
Mountaineering
Mountaineering is the practice of climbing mountains.
MS-DOS
MS-DOS (MicroSoft Disk Operating System) is a clone of CP/M for the 8088 put
together in six weeks by hacker Tim Paterson, who is said to have regretted it
ever since. It has numerous features, including vaguely UNIX-like but rather
broken support for subdirectories, I/O redirection, and pipelines, were hacked
into version 2.0 and subsequent versions; as a result, there are two or more
incompatible versions of many system calls, and MS-DOS programmers can never
agree on basic things like what character to use as an option switch or whether
to be case-sensitive. The resulting mess is now the highest-unit-volume OS in
history. Often known simply as DOS, which annoys people familiar with other
similarly abbreviated operating systems (the name goes back to the mid-1960s,
when it was attached to IBM's first disk operating system for the 360). The
name further annoys those who know what the term operating system does (or
ought to) connote; DOS is more properly a set of relatively simple interrupt
services.
MTBF
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) is a statistical method developed and
administered by the U.S. military for purposes of estimating maintenance levels
required by various devices and systems. Since accurate statistics require a
basis of failures per million hours of operation, an MTBF estimate on a
single device is not very accurate; it would take 114 years to see if the
device really had that many failures! Similarly, since the MTBF is an estimate
of averages, half of the devices can be expected to fail before then, and half
after. MTBF cannot be used as a guarantee. Telecommunications systems operate
on the principle of Availability, for which there is a body of CCITT
Recommendations.
Mu-metal
Mu-metal is a nickel-iron alloy characterised by its high permeability at low
field strengths and its small hysterisis losses.
Mudrane GG
see "Phenobarbital"
Muffle
A muffle is an arched fire-brick furnace used in assaying operations.
Muggins
see "Five-Up"
Multileaving
Multileaving is an IBM Bisync-era method of interspersing message blocks for
various applications on a single line.
Multum
Multum is a tradename for Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride
Mummy
A mummy is any dead body, human or animal, that has been naturally or
artificially preserved. Natural mummification can occur through freezing,
drying, or preservation in bogs or oil seeps. Artificial mummification may be
achieved by embalming (for example, the mummies of ancient Egypt) or by
freeze-drying.
Mungo
Mungo is a material similar to shoddy which is made from old woollen fabrics
which have been torn up for remaking.
Munjeet
Munjeet is a dye obtained from the roots of the Rubia cordifolia plant which is
grown in India.
Muriatic Acid
Muriatic Acid was a former name for Hydrochloric acid.
Murphy's Law
Murphy's Law reads: "If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of
those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it."
Murrine
Murrine vases were priceless vessels brought from Carmania in Persia and used
in ancient Rome as winecups where it was believed they would break if poison
was mixed with the wine.
Mus
Mus is a popular Spanish card game, of Basque origin. It is unusual in that
although its mechanics - drawing cards and then betting on who has the best
hand - are reminiscent of gambling games like Poker, Mus is a partnership game
which does not need to be (and usually is not) played for money. Mus is
actually quite quick and straightforward to play, with a lot of scope for bluff
and jokes.
Musk
Musk is a substance used in perfume and obtained from the Musk-deer. Musk is
also used in medicine as an antispasmodic.
Muslin
Muslin is a fine thin cotton fabric first imported into England in 1670 from
India.
Mustamaija
Mustamaija is a Finnish card game generally thought of as a children's game,
though the tactical play is sufficiently interesting that adults can also enjoy
playing it. The name translates roughly as "Black Maria", but its only
relationship to the British game of Black Maria (a variant of Hearts), is that
in both games the aim is to avoid being given the queen of spades. Mustamaija
is not a trick taking game like hearts - it is a beating game of the multiple
attack type. There is no winner, only a loser of each hand. The loser is the
player who is left holding the mustamaija (spade queen) when all the other
players have run out of cards.
Mycology
Mycology is the study of fungi, including the identification, description and
classification of the great diversity of fungi.
Myrrh
Myrrh is a gum resin produced by a tree found in Arabia. It is used as incense
and in embalming.
