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C definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

C, the third letter in the English alphabet, and the second articulation or consonant, is a palatal, nearly corresponding in sound with the Greek x, kappa, and with the Hebrew, caph. It bears a middle place in pronunciation, between the aspirate, and the palatal. It is a Roman character, borrowed from the Gr.x, or from the oriental, which was used in languages written from right to left, and when inverted and the corners rounded, becomes C. In the old Etruscan, it was written with the corners rounded, but not inverted; in Arcadian, C, as now written. That its sound in Latin was the same, or nearly the same, as that of kappa, may be known from the fact, that the Greeks, while the Latin was a living language, wrote kappa for the Roman C. Perhaps the same character may be the basis of the Arabic.
As an abbreviature, C stands for Caius, Carolus, Caesar, condemno, etc., and CC for consulibus. As a numeral C stands for 100; CC for 200; etc. In music, C after the cliff, is the mark of common time.
In English, C has two sounds, or rather it represents two very different articulations of the organs; one close, like K, which occurs before a, o and u; the other, a sibilant, precisely like s, which occurs before E, I and Y. The former is distinguished in this vocabulary by C, which may be called ke. In Russ. C is precisely the English s, as it was in the old Greek alphabet.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: being ten more than ninety [syn: hundred, one hundred, 100, c] n
1: a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature [syn: degree centigrade, degree Celsius, C]
2: the speed at which light travels in a vacuum; the constancy and universality of the speed of light is recognized by defining it to be exactly 299,792,458 meters per second [syn: speed of light, light speed, c]
3: a vitamin found in fresh fruits (especially citrus fruits) and vegetables; prevents scurvy [syn: vitamin C, C, ascorbic acid]
4: one of the four nucleotides used in building DNA; all four nucleotides have a common phosphate group and a sugar (ribose) [syn: deoxycytidine monophosphate, C]
5: a base found in DNA and RNA and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with guanine [syn: cytosine, C]
6: an abundant nonmetallic tetravalent element occurring in three allotropic forms: amorphous carbon and graphite and diamond; occurs in all organic compounds [syn: carbon, C, atomic number 6]
7: ten 10s [syn: hundred, 100, C, century, one C]
8: a unit of electrical charge equal to the amount of charge transferred by a current of 1 ampere in 1 second [syn: coulomb, C, ampere-second]
9: a general-purpose programing language closely associated with the UNIX operating system
10: (music) the keynote of the scale of C major
11: the 3rd letter of the Roman alphabet [syn: C, c]
12: street names for cocaine [syn: coke, blow, nose candy, snow, C]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural c's or cs) Usage: often capitalized, often attributive 1. a. the 3d letter of the English alphabet b. a graphic representation of this letter c. a speech counterpart of orthographic c 2. a. one hundred — see number table b. slang a sum of $100 3. the keynote of a C-major scale 4. a graphic device for reproducing the letter c 5. one designated c especially as the third in order or class 6. a. a grade rating a student's work as fair or mediocre in quality b. one graded or rated with a C 7. something shaped like the letter C 8. a structured programming language designed to be compact and efficient

Merriam Webster's

abbreviation 1. capacitance 2. carbon 3. Celsius 4. centigrade 5. Coulomb 6. cytosine

Britannica Concise

Style of U.S. popular music sung and performed primarily by black musicians, having its roots in gospel music and rhythm and blues. The term was first used in the 1960s to describe music that combined rhythm and blues, gospel, jazz, and rock music and that was characterized by intensity of feeling and earthiness. In its earliest stages, soul music was found most commonly in the South, but many of the young singers who were to popularize it migrated to cities in the North. The founding of Motown Records in Detroit and Stax-Volt in Memphis did much to encourage the style. Its most popular performers include J. Brown, R. Charles, S. Cooke, and A. Franklin.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. (also c) (pl. Cs or C's) 1 the third letter of the alphabet. 2 Mus. the first note of the diatonic scale of C major (the major scale having no sharps or flats). 3 the third hypothetical person or example. 4 the third highest class or category (of academic marks etc.). 5 Algebra (usu. c) the third known quantity. 6 (as a Roman numeral) 100. 7 (c) the speed of light in a vacuum. 8 (also Usage: ) copyright. 2. symb. Chem. the element carbon. 3. abbr. (also C.) 1 Cape. 2 Conservative. 3 Command Paper (second series, 1870-99). 4 Celsius, Centigrade. 5 coulomb(s), capacitance.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Legate Leg"ate (l[e^]g"[asl]t), n. [OE. legat, L. legatus, fr. legare to send with a commission or charge, to depute, fr. lex, legis, law: cf. F. l['e]gat, It. legato. See Legal.] 1. An ambassador or envoy. 2. An ecclesiastic representing the pope and invested with the authority of the Holy See. Note: Legates are of three kinds: (a) Legates a latere, now always cardinals. They are called ordinary or extraordinary legates, the former governing provinces, and the latter class being sent to foreign countries on extraordinary occasions. (b) Legati missi, who correspond to the ambassadors of temporal governments. (c) Legati nati, or legates by virtue of their office, as the archbishops of Salzburg and Prague. 3. (Rom. Hist.) (a) An official assistant given to a general or to the governor of a province. (b) Under the emperors, a governor sent to a province.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Libration Li*bra"tion (l[-i]*br[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. libratio: cf. F. libration.] 1. The act or state of librating. --Jer. Taylor. 2. (Astron.) A real or apparent libratory motion, like that of a balance before coming to rest. Libration of the moon, any one of those small periodical changes in the position of the moon's surface relatively to the earth, in consequence of which narrow portions at opposite limbs become visible or invisible alternately. It receives different names according to the manner in which it takes place; as: (a) Libration in longitude, that which, depending on the place of the moon in its elliptic orbit, causes small portions near the eastern and western borders alternately to appear and disappear each month. (b) Libration in latitude, that which depends on the varying position of the moon's axis in respect to the spectator, causing the alternate appearance and disappearance of either pole. (c) Diurnal or parallactic libration, that which brings into view on the upper limb, at rising and setting, some parts not in the average visible hemisphere.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Monkey Mon"key, n.; pl. Monkeys. [Cf. OIt. monicchio, It. monnino, dim. of monna an ape, also dame, mistress, contr. fr. madonna. See Madonna.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) (a) In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs. (b) Any species of Quadrumana, except the lemurs. (c) Any one of numerous species of Quadrumana (esp. such as have a long tail and prehensile feet) exclusive of apes and baboons. Note: The monkeys are often divided into three groups: (a) Catarrhines, or Simid[ae]. These have an oblong head, with the oblique flat nostrils near together. Some have no tail, as the apes. All these are natives of the Old World. (b) Platyrhines, or Cebid[ae]. These have a round head, with a broad nasal septum, so that the nostrils are wide apart and directed downward. The tail is often prehensile, and the thumb is short and not opposable. These are natives of the New World. (c) Strepsorhines, or Lemuroidea. These have a pointed head with curved nostrils. They are natives of Southern Asia, Africa, and Madagascar. 2. A term of disapproval, ridicule, or contempt, as for a mischievous child. This is the monkey's own giving out; she is persuaded I will marry her. --Shak. 3. The weight or hammer of a pile driver, that is, a very heavy mass of iron, which, being raised on high, falls on the head of the pile, and drives it into the earth; the falling weight of a drop hammer used in forging. 4. A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century. Monkey boat. (Naut.) (a) A small boat used in docks. (b) A half-decked boat used on the River Thames. Monkey block (Naut.), a small single block strapped with a swivel. --R. H. Dana, Jr. Monkey flower (Bot.), a plant of the genus Mimulus; -- so called from the appearance of its gaping corolla. --Gray. Monkey gaff (Naut.), a light gaff attached to the topmast for the better display of signals at sea. Monkey jacket, a short closely fitting jacket, worn by sailors. Monkey rail (Naut.), a second and lighter rail raised about six inches above the quarter rail of a ship. Monkey shine, monkey trick. [Slang, U.S.] Monkey trick, a mischievous prank. --Saintsbury. Monkey wheel. See Gin block, under 5th Gin. Monkey wrench, a wrench or spanner having a movable jaw.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Motion Mo"tion, n. [F., fr. L. motio, fr. movere, motum, to move. See Move.] 1. The act, process, or state of changing place or position; movement; the passing of a body from one place or position to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; -- opposed to rest. Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace attends thee, and each word, each motion, forms. --Milton. 2. Power of, or capacity for, motion. Devoid of sense and motion. --Milton. 3. Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of the planets is from west to east. In our proper motion we ascend. --Milton. 4. Change in the relative position of the parts of anything; action of a machine with respect to the relative movement of its parts. This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion. --Dr. H. More. 5. Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity. Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God. --South. 6. A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress; esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly; as, a motion to adjourn. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. --Shak. 7. (Law) An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant. --Mozley & W. 8. (Mus.) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts. The independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint. --Grove. Note: Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is that when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is that when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is that when parts move in the same direction. 9. A puppet show or puppet. [Obs.] What motion's this? the model of Nineveh? --Beau. & Fl. Note: Motion, in mechanics, may be simple or compound. Simple motions are: (a) straight translation, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. (b) Simple rotation, which may be either continuous or reciprocating, and when reciprocating is called oscillating. (c) Helical, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. Compound motion consists of combinations of any of the simple motions. Center of motion, Harmonic motion, etc. See under Center, Harmonic, etc. Motion block (Steam Engine), a crosshead. Perpetual motion (Mech.), an incessant motion conceived to be attainable by a machine supplying its own motive forces independently of any action from without.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Symbol Sym"bol, n. [L. symbolus, symbolum, Gr. sy`mbolon a sign by which one knows or infers a thing, from ? to throw or put together, to compare; sy`n with + ? to throw: cf. F. symbole. Cf. Emblem, Parable.] 1. A visible sign or representation of an idea; anything which suggests an idea or quality, or another thing, as by resemblance or by convention; an emblem; a representation; a type; a figure; as, the lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience. A symbol is a sign included in the idea which it represents, e. g., an actual part chosen to represent the whole, or a lower form or species used as the representative of a higher in the same kind. --Coleridge. 2. (Math.) Any character used to represent a quantity, an operation, a relation, or an abbreviation. Note: In crystallography, the symbol of a plane is the numerical expression which defines its position relatively to the assumed axes. 3. (Theol.) An abstract or compendium of faith or doctrine; a creed, or a summary of the articles of religion. 4. [Gr. ? contributions.] That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty. [Obs.] They do their work in the days of peace . . . and come to pay their symbol in a war or in a plague. --Jer. Taylor. 5. Share; allotment. [Obs.] The persons who are to be judged . . . shall all appear to receive their symbol. --Jer. Taylor. 6. (Chem.) An abbreviation standing for the name of an element and consisting of the initial letter of the Latin or New Latin name, or sometimes of the initial letter with a following one; as, C for carbon, Na for sodium (Natrium), Fe for iron (Ferrum), Sn for tin (Stannum), Sb for antimony (Stibium), etc. See the list of names and symbols under Element. Note: In pure and organic chemistry there are symbols not only for the elements, but also for their grouping in formulas, radicals, or residues, as evidenced by their composition, reactions, synthesis, etc. See the diagram of Benzene nucleus, under Benzene. Syn: Emblem; figure; type. See Emblem.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

C C (s[=e]) 1. C is the third letter of the English alphabet. It is from the Latin letter C, which in old Latin represented the sounds of k, and g (in go); its original value being the latter. In Anglo-Saxon words, or Old English before the Norman Conquest, it always has the sound of k. The Latin C was the same letter as the Greek [Gamma], [gamma], and came from the Greek alphabet. The Greeks got it from the Ph[oe]nicians. The English name of C is from the Latin name ce, and was derived, probably, through the French. Etymologically C is related to g, h, k, q, s (and other sibilant sounds). Examples of these relations are in L. acutus, E. acute, ague; E. acrid, eager, vinegar; L. cornu, E. horn; E. cat, kitten; E. coy, quiet; L. circare, OF. cerchier, E. search. Note: See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 221-228. 2. (Mus.) (a) The keynote of the normal or ``natural'' scale, which has neither flats nor sharps in its signature; also, the third note of the relative minor scale of the same. (b) C after the clef is the mark of common time, in which each measure is a semibreve (four fourths or crotchets); for alla breve time it is written ?. (c) The ``C clef,'' a modification of the letter C, placed on any line of the staff, shows that line to be middle C. 3. As a numeral, C stands for Latin centum or 100, CC for 200, etc. C spring, a spring in the form of the letter C.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gastropoda Gas*trop"o*da, n. pl., [NL., fr. Gr. ?, ?, stomach + -poda.] (Zo["o]l.) One of the classes of Mollusca, of great extent. It includes most of the marine spiral shells, and the land and fresh-water snails. They generally creep by means of a flat, muscular disk, or foot, on the ventral side of the body. The head usually bears one or two pairs of tentacles. See Mollusca. [Written also Gasteropoda.] Note: The Gastropoda are divided into three subclasses; viz.: (a) The Streptoneura or Dioecia, including the Pectinibranchiata, Rhipidoglossa, Docoglossa, and Heteropoda. (b) The Euthyneura, including the Pulmonata and Opisthobranchia. (c) The Amphineura, including the Polyplacophora and Aplacophora.