phys

‖prop. n. [ NL., fr. Gr. fysalli`s a bladder, fr. fy^sa a bellows. ] (Zool.) A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the Portuguese man-of-war. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It has a large air sac, or float, with a sail-like crest on its upper side. Numerous zooids of different kinds are attached to the under side of the float. Some of the zooids have very long tentacles; some have a mouth and digest food; others produce gonophores. The American species (Physalia arethusa) is brilliantly colored, the float being pink or purple, and bright blue; the zooids blue. It is noted for its virulent stinging powers, as well as for its beautiful colors, graceful motions, and its ability to sail to windward. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) An order of Siphonophora which includes Physalia. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A small genus of Western North American herbs similar to Lesquerella; the bladderpods.
Syn. -- genus Physaria. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., from Gr. fy^shma a blowing. ] (Zool.) A group of simple marine organisms, usually classed as the lowest of the sponges. They have inflated hollow bodies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. Gr. fyshth`r, fr. fysa^n to blow: cf. F. physétère. ] [ capitalized ] 1. (Zool.) The genus that includes the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A filtering machine operated by air pressure. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A natural family of marine mammals that includes the sperm whales.
Syn. -- family Physeteridae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. fy`sis nature + 'a`nqrwpos man. ] The philosophy of human life, or the doctrine of the constitution and diseases of man, and their remedies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Therapy that use physical agents: exercise and massage and so on.
Syn. -- physical therapy, physiotherapy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Physiced p. pr. & vb. n. Physicking ] 1. To treat with physic or medicine; to administer medicine to, esp. a cathartic; to operate on as a cathartic; to purge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To work on as a remedy; to heal; to cure. [ 1913 Webster ]

The labor we delight in physics pain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A mind diseased no remedy can physic. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. phisike, fisike, OF. phisique, F. physique knowledge of nature, physics, L. physica, physice, fr. Gr. fysikh`, fr. fysiko`s natural, from fy`sis nature, fr. fy`ein to produce, grow, akin to E. be. See Be, and cf. Physics, Physique. ] 1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the theory or practice of medicine; -- an archaic term, superseded by medicine. [ archaic ] “A doctor of physik.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A physician. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Physic nut (Bot.), a small tropical American euphorbiaceous tree (Jatropha Curcas), and its seeds, which are well flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them dangerous if eaten in large quantities. [ 1913 Webster ]