*alco*

{ } n. Shortened forms of Alcoholate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcool, formerly written alcohol, Sp. alcohol alcohol, antimony, galena, OSp. alcofol; all fr. Ar. al-kohl a powder of antimony or galena, to paint the eyebrows with. The name was afterwards applied, on account of the fineness of this powder, to highly rectified spirits, a signification unknown in Arabia. The Sp. word has both meanings. Cf. Alquifou. ] 1. An impalpable powder. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation. [ Obs. ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit (called also ethyl alcohol or ethanol, CH3.CH2.OH); the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented or distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it in considerable quantity. It is extracted by simple distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous fermentation. [ The ferementation is usually carried out by addition of brewer's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae to an aqueous solution containing carbohydrates. ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

☞ As used in the U. S. “Pharmacopœia, ” alcohol contains 91 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 9 per cent of water; and diluted alcohol (proof spirit) contains 45.5 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 54.5 per cent of water. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Organic Chem.) A class of compounds analogous to vinic alcohol in constitution. Chemically speaking, they are hydroxides of certain organic radicals; as, the radical ethyl forms common or ethyl alcohol (C2H5.OH); methyl forms methyl alcohol (CH3.OH) or wood alcohol; amyl forms amyl alcohol (C5H11.OH) or fusel oil, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcolaie. ] (Chem.) A crystallizable compound of a salt with alcohol, in which the latter plays a part analogous to that of water of crystallization. Graham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcoolature. ] (Med.) An alcoholic tincture prepared with fresh plants. New Eng. Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. alcolique. ] Of or pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities; derived from, or caused by, alcohol; containing alcohol; as, alcoholic mixtures; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic odor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A person given to the use of alcoholic liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. Alcoholic liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcoolisme. ] 1. (Med.) Chronic excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages that leads to social, occupational, psychological and physiological problems. [ AS ]

2. (Med.) Psychological and physiological dependence on alcohol; sudden cessation of drinking may lead to withdrawal symptoms. [ AS + PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcoolisation. ] 1. The act of reducing a substance to a fine or impalpable powder. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act rectifying spirit. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Saturation with alcohol; putting the animal system under the influence of alcoholic liquor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Alcoholized p. pr. & vb. n. Alcoholizing. ] [ Cf. F. alcooliser. ] 1. To reduce to a fine powder. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To convert into alcohol; to rectify; also, to saturate with alcohol. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Alcohol + -meter. ] (Chem.) An instrument for determining the strength of spirits, with a scale graduated so as to indicate the percentage of pure alcohol, either by weight or volume. It is usually a form of hydrometer with a special scale. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, a. Relating to the alcoholometer or alcoholometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

The alcoholometrical strength of spirituous liquors. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The process or method of ascertaining the proportion of pure alcohol which spirituous liquors contain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n., , a. Same as Alcoholometer, Alcoholometric. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Alcoholometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The chemists say alcomètre, alcoomètrie, doubtless by the suppression of a syllable in order to avoid a disagreeable sequence of sounds. (Cf. Idolatry.) Littré. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ alcoran, fr. Ar. al-qorān, orig. the reading, the book, fr. qaraa to read. Cf. Koran. ] The Muslim Scriptures; the Koran (now the usual form). [ Spelt also Alkoran. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the Koran. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who adheres to the letter of the Koran, rejecting all traditions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. alcôve, Sp. or Pg. alcoba, from Ar. al-quobbah arch, vault, tent. ] 1. (Arch.) A recessed portion of a room, or a small room opening into a larger one; especially, a recess to contain a bed; a lateral recess in a library. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small ornamental building with seats, or an arched seat, in a pleasure ground; a garden bower. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any natural recess analogous to an alcove or recess in an apartment. [ 1913 Webster ]

The youthful wanderers found a wild alcove. Falconer. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Org. Chem.) Any of eight isomeric liquid alcohols (C5H11.OH), transparent, colorless liquids. It is the hydroxide of amyl. Also called amylic alcohol. The amyl alcohol obtained from fusel oil is mostly isoamyl alcohol (3-methyl-1-butanol or 1-hydroxy-3-methylbutane), with some sec-amyl alcohol (2-methyl-1-butanol or 2-pentanol), and has a characteristic peculiar odor. Other than n-amyl alcohol (also called 1-pentanol) the other isomeric pentanols are not usually refered to as amyl alcohol. The amyl alcohol mixture in fusel oil forms a colorless liquid with a peculiar cough-exciting odor and burning taste. It is used as a source of amyl compounds, such as amyl acetate, amyl nitrite, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. A balcony. [ Obs. ] Pepys. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having balconies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Balconies [ It. balcone; cf. It. balco, palco, scaffold, fr. OHG. balcho, palcho, beam, G. balken. See Balk beam. ] 1. (Arch.) A platform projecting from the wall of a building, usually resting on brackets or consoles, and inclosed by a parapet; as, a balcony in front of a window. Also, a projecting gallery in places of amusement; as, the balcony in a theater. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A projecting gallery once common at the stern of large ships. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “The accent has shifted from the second to the first syllable within these twenty years.” Smart (1836). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who practices calcography. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Relating to, or in the style of, calcography. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. calx, calcis, lime, chalk + -graphy. ] The art of drawing with chalk. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ It. ] See Catafalque. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chalko`s brass. ] (Min.) Native copper sulphide, called also copper glance, and vitreous copper; a mineral of a black color and metallic luster. [ Formerly written chalcosine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. An engraver on copper or brass; hence, an engraver of copper plates for printing upon paper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chalko`s copper, brass + -graphy. ] The act or art of engraving on copper or brass, especially of engraving for printing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chalko`s brass + E. pyrite. So named from its color. ] (Min.) Copper pyrites, or yellow copper ore; a common ore of copper, containing copper, iron, and sulphur. It occurs massive and in tetragonal crystals of a bright brass yellow color. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. décalcomanie. ] The art or process of transferring pictures and designs to china, glass, marble, etc., and permanently fixing them thereto.

n. (Chem.) the organic compound C2H5.OH, which is the intoxicating agent in beer, wine, and other fermented and distilled liquors; it is used pure or denatured as a solvent or in medicines and colognes and cleaning solutions and rocket fuel.
Syn. -- ethanol, fermentation alcohol, grain alcohol. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ OE. faucon, faucoun, OF. faucon, falcon, &unr_;. faucon, fr. LL. falco, perh. from L. falx, falcis, a sickle or scythe, and named from its curving talons. Cf. Falchion. ] 1. (Zool.) (a) One of a family (Falconidæ) of raptorial birds, characterized by a short, hooked beak, strong claws, and powerful flight. (b) Any species of the genus Falco, distinguished by having a toothlike lobe on the upper mandible; especially, one of this genus trained to the pursuit of other birds, or game. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the language of falconry, the female peregrine (Falco peregrinus) is exclusively called the falcon. Yarrell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gun.) An ancient form of cannon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chanting falcon. (Zool.) See under Chanting. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. fauconer, OF. falconier, fauconier, F. fauconnier. See Falcon. ] A person who breeds or trains hawks for taking birds or game; one who follows the sport of fowling with hawks. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dim. of falcon: cf. F. fauconneau, LL. falconeta, properly, a young falcon. ] 1. One of the smaller cannon used in the 15th century and later. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) (a) One of several very small Asiatic falcons of the genus Microhierax. (b) One of a group of Australian birds of the genus Falcunculus, resembling shrikes and titmice. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. faucon-gentil. See Falcon, and Genteel. ] 1. (Zool.) any female falcon; especially -- [ PJC ]

2. (Zool.) a female peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).
Syn. -- falcon-gentil. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. (Zool.) The female or young of the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis, formerly Astur palumbarius). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Like a falcon or hawk; belonging to the Falconidæ [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. fauconnerie. See Falcon. ] 1. The art of training falcons or hawks to pursue and attack wild fowl or game. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The sport of taking wild fowl or game by means of falcons or hawks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Falcon-gentil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Gyrfalcon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Gier-eagle, Gyrfalcon. ] (Zool.) The gyrfalcon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. gerfaucon, OF. gerfaucon, LL. gyrofalco, perh. fr. L. gyrus circle + falco falcon, and named from its circling flight; or cf. E. gier-eagle. See Gyre, n., Falcon. ] (Zool.) One of several species and varieties of large Arctic falcons, esp. Falco rusticolus and the white species Falco Islandicus, both of which are circumpolar. The black and the gray are varieties of the former. See Illust. of Accipiter. [ Written also gerfalcon, gierfalcon, and jerfalcon. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The gyrfalcon. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A genus of plants usually found in coastal habitats; native from the Mediterranean to Afghanistan.
Syn. -- genus Malcolmia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A militant American black nationalist leader, also called Malcolm X; (1925-1965). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Any of various ornamental flowering plants of the genus Malcolmia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. See Malcolm Little. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Mal- + conformation. ] Imperfect, disproportionate, or abnormal formation; ill form; disproportion of parts. [ 1913 Webster ]