*param*

n. (Chem.) A white crystalline nitrogenous substance (C2H4N4); -- called also dicyandiamide. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A substance exhibiting paramagnetism, i.e. a substance whose magnetization is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field applied to it. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Pref. para- + magnetic. ] (Physics) Having or exhibiting paramagnetism; -- opposed to diamagnetic and contrasted with ferromagnetic. -- n. A paramagnetic substance. Faraday. -- Par`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly adv. [1913 Webster]

n. (Physics) A property of materials which are not magnetized in the absence of an external magnetic field, but in which the magnetic moments of their constituents align with and enhance an applied magnetic field; the induced magnetic field of the substance is in direct proportion to the strength of the applied magnetic field; -- opposed to diamagnetic and contrasted with ferromagnetic. Faraday. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. para- + maleic. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from malic acid, and now called fumaric acid. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. para- + malic. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid metameric with malic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. para- + mastoid. ] (Anat.) Situated beside, or near, the mastoid portion of the temporal bone; paroccipital; -- applied especially to a process of the skull in some animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So named from Paramatta, in Australia. ] A light fabric of cotton and worsted, resembling bombazine or merino. Beck (Draper's Dict.) [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. (Med.) A person who is trained to give first aid and other emergency medical assistance in the absence of a physician, and to assist a physician in the administration of health care. Paramedics are often associated with police, firefighting units, or rescue squads. [ PJC ]

‖a. (Med.) 1. Of or pertaining to those providing medical care who are not physicians but serve in the capacity of assisting physicians; nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, Physical Therapy instructors, and respiratory therapy technicians are examples of paramedical personnel. [ PJC ]

2. Of or pertaining to the type of medical care provided by paramedics or other paramedical personnel; as, paramedical treatment. [ PJC ]

n. [ Sp. paramento, from parar to prepare, L. parare. ] Ornamental hangings, furniture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lords in paraments on their coursers. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chamber of paraments, presence chamber of a monarch. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. ] Ornament; decoration. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. para- + -mere. ] (Zool.) One of the symmetrical halves of any one of the radii, or spheromeres, of a radiate animal, as a starfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. para- + -meter: cf. F. paramètre. ] 1. A constant number which is part of a theory, function, or calculation, whose value is not determined by the form of the theory or equation itself, and may in some cases be arbitrary assigned. [ PJC ]

2. Specifically: (a) (Math.) A term applied to some characteristic magnitude whose value, invariable as long as one and the same function, curve, surface, etc., is considered, serves to distinguish that function, curve, surface, etc., from others of the same kind or family. Brande & C. (b) (Conic Sections) (in the ellipse and hyperbola), a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the latus rectum. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Science) Any constant number which is required to calculate values of observed phenomena according to a theory, but the value of which must be determined by experiment, and cannot be calculated from the fundamental assumptions of the theory. In general, a theory which has a large number of parameters, though it may accurately predict experimental results, is considered as having less explanatory power and as being less esthetically pleasing than a theory with fewer parameters. [ PJC ]

4. (Crystallog.) The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane; also, the fundamental axial ratio for a given species. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The limits, guidelines, or assumptions from within which an activity is carried out; as, new arrivals need to learn the parameters of the research in our department. [ PJC ]

6. (Computers) A variable used in a calculation within a computer program which must be assigned a value before the calculation can be performed; as, let's plug in the parameters and see what the result is. [ PJC ]

7. A characteristic or element, especially one used as a criterion for evaluation or judgment; as, a useful parameter for determining efficiency. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL. See Para-, and Metritis. ] (Med.) Inflammation of the cellular tissue in the vicinity of the uterus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; proverb + -graph + -er. ] A collector or writer of proverbs. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. para- + mitome. ] (Biol.) The fluid portion of the protoplasm of a cell. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Paramos [ Sp. pæramo. ] A high, bleak plateau or district, with stunted trees, and cold, damp atmosphere, as in the Andes, in South America. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. para- + Gr. morfh` form. ] 1. (Min.) A kind of pseudomorph, in which there has been a change of physical characters, by a change in crystal structure without alteration of chemical composition, as the change of aragonite to calcite; called also allomorph. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. (Biol.) A taxonomic variant observed within a species, for which a more specific term has not been assigned. [ PJC ]

-- par`a*mor"phic, a. -- par`a*mor"phous, a. [ PJC ]

n. (Min.) The change of one mineral species to another, so as to involve a change in physical characters without alteration of chemical composition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Min.) Relating to paramorphism; exhibiting paramorphism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. par amont above; par through, by (L. per) + amont above. See Amount. ] Having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all others; chief; supreme; preëminent; as, a paramount duty. “A traitor paramount.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lady paramount (Archery), the lady making the best score. --
Lord paramount, the king. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. Superior; principal; preeminent; chief. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The highest or chief. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a paramount manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. par amour, lit., by or with love. See 2d Par, and Amour. ] 1. A lover, of either sex; a wooer or a mistress (formerly in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place, without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man or a woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Love; gallantry. [ Obs. ] “For paramour and jollity.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , adv. By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; -- sometimes written as two words. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For par amour, I loved her first ere thou. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]