*phys*

‖n. [ Gr. 'ana` back + &unr_; offshoot. ] (Anat.) An accessory process in many lumbar vertebræ. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. anti- + physical. ] Contrary to nature; unnatural. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. anti- + Gr. &unr_; to inflate. ] (Med.) Relieving flatulence; carminative. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. -ses. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; offshoot, process of a bone, fr. &unr_; to grow from; &unr_; from + &unr_;, &unr_;, to grow. ] 1. (Anat.) A marked prominence or process on any part of a bone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) An enlargement at the top of a pedicel or stem, as seen in certain mosses. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the physics of astronomical science. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an astronomer who studies the physical properties of celestial bodies. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Astro- + physics. ] (Astron.) The science treating of the physical characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies, their chemical constitution, light, heat, atmospheres, etc. It is a branch of astronomy. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Its observations were traditionally made with the spectroscope, bolometer, etc., usually in connection with the telescope. In modern times, radiotelescopes, infrared telescopes, X-ray and gamma ray detectors and neutrino detection equipment located deep underground are all put into service to observe and test theories about astronomical phenomena. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. 1. the concerned with the physical and chemical properties of celestial bodies. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Pref. cata + physical. ] Unnatural; contrary to nature. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Some artists . . . have given to Sir Walter Scott a pile of forehead which is unpleassing and cataphysical. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or . [ So called after a Dr. Culver, who used it. ] (Bot.) The root of a handsome erect herb (Leptandra Virginica syn. Veronica Virginica) common in most moist woods of North America , used as an active cathartic and emetic; also, the plant itself. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. of or pertaining to diaphysis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; a growing through; dia` through + &unr_; to bring forth. ] 1. (Bot.) An abnormal prolongation of the axis of inflorescence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) The shaft, or main part, of a bone, which is first ossified. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Pertaining to a diapophysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Dia-, and Apophysis. ] (Anat.) The dorsal transverse, or tubercular, process of a vertebra. See Vertebra. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Didelphia. ] (Zool.) Formerly, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to an American genus which includes the opossums, of which there are many species. See Opossum. [ Written also Didelphis. ] See Illustration in Appendix. Cuvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) Pertaining to electrical results produced through physiological agencies, or by change of action in a living organism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physiol.) That branch of physiology which treats of electric phenomena produced through physiological agencies; it is especially concerned with electrical impulses generated by and conducted between nerves. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; inflation, fr. &unr_; to inflate; &unr_; in + &unr_; to blow: cf. F. emphysème. ] (Med.) A swelling produced by gas or air diffused in the cellular tissue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Emphysema of the lungs,
Pulmonary emphysema (Med.), a common disease of the lungs in which the air cells are distended and their partition walls ruptured by an abnormal pressure of the air contained in them. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. emphysémateux. ] (Med.) Pertaining to, or of the nature of, emphysema; swelled; bloated. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } (Anat.) Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an epiphysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Epiphyses [ NL., fr. Gr. 'epi`fysis, fr. 'epify`ein to grow upon; 'epi` upon + fy`ein to grow. ] (Anat.) (a) The end, or other superficial part, of a bone, which ossifies separately from the central portion, or diaphysis. (b) The cerebral epiphysis, or pineal gland. See Pineal gland, under Pineal. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not subject to physical laws or methods. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. of or pertaining to geophysics; as, geophysical sciences. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a specialist in geology.
Syn. -- geologist. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A branch of geology that uses physical principles to study the properties of the earth.
Syn. -- geophysical science. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL. ] Same as Hemapophysis. -- Haem`a*po*phys"i*al a. [1913 Webster]

‖n.; pl. Hemapophyses . [ NL. See Haema-, and Apophysis. ] (Anat.) The second element in each half of a hemal arch, corresponding to the sternal part of a rib. Owen. -- Hem`a*po*phys"i*al a.

n. the branch of particle physics which studies collisions of particles accelerated to such high energy that new fundamental particles are generated in the process. The creation of new particles of very high energy is required to permit the study of the most fundamental relations between forms of matter, so as to understand the fundamental nature of matter. The high energies also reproduce the high-temperature conditions at the earliest phase of the big bang, allowing generation of some data relevant to understanding the nature and evolution of the universe. [ PJC ]

‖n.; pl. Hypapophyles [ NL. See Hypo-, and Apophysis. ] (Anat.) A process, or other element, of a vertebra developed from the ventral side of the centrum, as hæmal spines, and chevron bones. -- Hy`pa*po*phys"i*al a. [1913 Webster]

‖n.; pl. Hyperapophyses [ NL. See Hyper-, and Apophysis. ] (Anat.) A lateral and backward-projecting process on the dorsal side of a vertebra. -- Hy`per*ap`o*phys"i*al a. [1913 Webster]

a. Above or transcending physical laws; supernatural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those who do not fly to some hyperphysical hypothesis. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the hypophysis; pituitary. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; under + &unr_; nature, origin. ] 1. (Anat.) See Pituitary body, under Pituitary. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) Cataract. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Litho- + Gr. &unr_; a flatus, air bubble. ] (Min.) A spherulitic cavity often with concentric chambers, observed in some volcanic rocks, as in rhyolitic lavas. It is supposed to be produced by expanding gas, whence the name. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. métaphysique. ] See Metaphysics. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Metaphysical. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. métaphysique. See Metaphysics. ] 1. Of or pertaining to metaphysics. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. According to rules or principles of metaphysics; as, metaphysical reasoning. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Preternatural or supernatural. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The golden round
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crowned withal. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of metaphysical science, or of a metaphysician. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. métaphysicien. ] One who is versed in metaphysics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; &unr_; &unr_; after those things which relate to external nature, after physics, fr. &unr_; beyond, after + &unr_; relating to external nature, natural, physical, fr. &unr_; nature: cf. F. métaphysique. See Physics. The term was first used by the followers of Aristotle as a name for that part of his writings which came after, or followed, the part which treated of physics. ] 1. The science of real as distinguished from phenomenal being; ontology; also, the science of being, with reference to its abstract and universal conditions, as distinguished from the science of determined or concrete being; the science of the conceptions and relations which are necessarily implied as true of every kind of being; philosophy in general; first principles, or the science of first principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Metaphysics is distinguished as general and special. General metaphysics is the science of all being as being. Special metaphysics is the science of one kind of being; as, the metaphysics of chemistry, of morals, or of politics. According to Kant, a systematic exposition of those notions and truths, the knowledge of which is altogether independent of experience, would constitute the science of metaphysics. [ 1913 Webster ]

Commonly, in the schools, called metaphysics, as being part of the philosophy of Aristotle, which hath that for title; but it is in another sense: for there it signifieth as much as “books written or placed after his natural philosophy.” But the schools take them for “books of supernatural philosophy;” for the word metaphysic will bear both these senses. Hobbes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now the science conversant about all such inferences of unknown being from its known manifestations, is called ontology, or metaphysics proper. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Metaphysics are [ is ] the science which determines what can and what can not be known of being, and the laws of being, a priori. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: The scientific knowledge of mental phenomena; mental philosophy; psychology. [ 1913 Webster ]

Metaphysics, in whatever latitude the term be taken, is a science or complement of sciences exclusively occupied with mind. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whether, after all,
A larger metaphysics might not help
Our physics. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; after + &unr_; nature. ] Change of form; transformation. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Metapophyses [ NL. See Meta-, and Apophysis. ] (Anat.) A tubercle projecting from the anterior articular processes of some vertebrae; a mammillary process. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; mo`nos single + &unr_; nature: cf. F. monophysite. ] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect, in the ancient church, who maintained that the human and divine in Jesus Christ constituted but one composite nature. Also used adjectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Monophysites, or their doctrines. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a neurapophysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Neurapophyses [ NL. See Neuro-, and Apophysis. ] (Anat.) (a) One of the two lateral processes or elements which form the neural arch. (b) The dorsal process of the neural arch; neural spine; spinous process. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A scientist specializing in nuclear physics. [ PJC ]

n. That branch of physics which studies the structure of and phenomena observed in atomic nuclei. [ PJC ]