Stercory Ster"co·ry noun Excrement; dung. [ Obsolete]

Sterculiaceous Ster·cu`li·a"ceous adjective [ New Latin Sterculia , the typical genus, from Latin Sterculius the deity that presided over manuring, from stercus dung. So called because one of the original species is fetid.] (Botany) Of or pertaining to a natural order ( Sterculiaceæ ) of polypetalous exogenous plants, mostly tropical. The cacao ( Theobroma Cacao ) is the most useful plant of the order.

Stere Stere noun [ French stère , from Greek ... solid.] A unit of cubic measure in the metric system, being a cubic meter, or kiloliter, and equal to 35.3 cubic feet, or nearly 1⅓ cubic yards.

Stere Stere transitive verb & i. To stir. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Stere Stere noun A rudder. See 5th Steer . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Stere Stere noun Helmsman. See 6th Steer . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Sterelmintha Ster`el·min"tha noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek stereo`s solid + ... a worm.] (Zoology) Same as Platyelminthes .

Stereo- Ste"re·o- [ Greek stereo`s solid. See Stare to gaze.] A combining form meaning solid , hard , firm , as in stereo -chemistry, stereo graphy.

Stereo-chemic, Stereo-chemical Ste`re·o-chem"ic, Ste`re·o-chem"ic·al adjective (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or illustrating, the hypothetical space relations of atoms in the molecule; as, a stereo-chemic formula.

Stereo-chemistry Ste`re·o-chem"is·try noun [ Stereo- + chemistry .] (Chemistry) Chemistry considered with reference to the space relations of atoms.

Stereobate Ste"re·o·bate noun [ Greek stereo`s solid + ... that treads or covers, akin to ... base; confer French stéréobate .] (Architecture) The lower part or basement of a building or pedestal; -- used loosely for several different forms of basement.

Stereochrome Ste"re·o·chrome noun Stereochromic picture.

Stereochromic Ste`re·o·chro"mic adjective Pertaining to the art of stereochromy; produced by stereochromy. -- Ste`re*o*chro"mic*al*ly adverb

Stereochromy Ste`re·och"ro·my noun [ Stereo- + Greek chrw^ma color.] A style of painting on plastered walls or stone, in which the colors are rendered permanent by sprinklings of water, in which is mixed a proportion of soluble glass (a silicate of soda).

Stereoelectric Ste`re·o·e·lec"tric adjective [ Stereo- + electric .] (Physics) Of or pertaining to the generation of electricity by means of solid bodies alone; as, a stereoelectric current is one obtained by means of solids, without any liquid.

Stereogram Ste"re·o·gram noun [ Stereo- + -gram .] A diagram or picture which represents objects in such a way as to give the impression of relief or solidity; also, a stereograph.

Stereograph Ste"re·o·graph noun [ Stereo- + -graph .] Any picture, or pair of pictures, prepared for exhibition in the stereoscope. Stereographs are now commonly made by means of photography.

Stereographic, Stereographical Ste`re·o·graph"ic, Ste`re·o·graph"ic·al adjective [ Confer French stéréographique .] Made or done according to the rules of stereography; delineated on a plane; as, a stereographic chart of the earth.

Stereographic projection (Geom.) , a method of representing the sphere in which the center of projection is taken in the surface of the sphere, and the plane upon which the projection is made is at right andles to the diameter passing through the center of projection.

Stereographically Ste`re·o·graph"ic·al·ly adverb In a stereographical manner; by delineation on a plane.

Stereography Ste`re·og"ra·phy noun [ Stereo- + graphy : confer French stéréographie .] The art of delineating the forms of solid bodies on a plane; a branch of solid geometry which shows the construction of all solids which are regularly defined.

» By cutting pieces of cardboard, or other suitable material, in the forms represented in the cut, folding them along the lines indicated, and joining their edges, the five regular solids may be formed.

Stereometer Ste`re·om"e·ter noun [ Stereo- + meter .] (Physics) 1. An instrument for measuring the solid contents of a body, or the capacity of a vessel; a volumenometer.

2. An instrument for determining the specific gravity of liquid bodies, porous bodies, and powders, as well as solids.

Stereometric, Stereometrical Ste`re·o·met"ric, Ste`re·o·met"ric·al adjective [ Confer French stéréométrique .] Of or pertaining to stereometry; performed or obtained by stereometry. -- Ste`re*o*met"ric*al*ly , adverb

Stereometry Ste`re·om"e·try noun [ Stereo- + -metry : confer French stéréométrie .] The art of measuring and computing the cubical contents of bodies and figures; -- distinguished from planimetry .

Stereomonoscope Ste`re·o·mon"o·scope noun [ Stereo- + mono- + -scope .] An instrument with two lenses, by which an image of a single picture projected upon a screen of ground glass is made to present an appearance of relief, and may be viewed by several persons at once.

Stereoplasm Ste"re·o·plasm noun [ Stereo- + Greek ... anything formed or molded.] (Biol.) The solid or insoluble portion of the cell protoplasm. See Hygroplasm .

Stereopticon Ste`re·op"ti·con noun [ New Latin See Stereo- , and Optic .] An instrument, consisting essentially of a magic lantern in which photographic pictures are used, by which the image of a landscape, or any object, may be thrown upon a screen in such a manner as to seem to stand out in relief, so as to form a striking and accurate representation of the object itself; also, a pair of magic lanterns for producing the effect of dissolving views.

Stereoscope Ste"re·o·scope noun [ Stereo- + -scope .] An optical instrument for giving to pictures the appearance of solid forms, as seen in nature. It combines in one, through a bending of the rays of light, two pictures, taken for the purpose from points of view a little way apart. It is furnished with two eyeglasses, and by refraction or reflection the pictures are superimposed, so as to appear as one to the observer.

» In the reflecting stereoscope , the rays from the two pictures are turned into the proper direction for stereoscopic vision by two plane mirrors set at an angle with each other, and between the pictures. In the lenticular stereoscope , the form in general use, the eyeglasses are semilenses, or marginal portions of the same convex lenses, set with their edges toward each other, so that they deflect the rays coming from the picture so as to strike the eyes as if coming direct from an intermediate point, where the two pictures are seen apparently as one.

Stereoscopic, Stereoscopical Ste`re·o·scop"ic, Ste`re·o·scop"ic·al adjective Of or pertaining to the stereoscope; characteristic of, or adapted to, the stereoscope; as, a stereoscopic effect; the stereoscopic function of the eyeglasses; stereoscopic views. -- Ste`re*o*scop"ic*al*ly , adverb

Stereoscopist Ste`re·os"co·pist noun One skilled in the use or construction of stereoscopes.

Stereoscopy Ste`re·os"co·py noun The art or science of using the stereoscope, or of constructing the instrument or the views used with it.

Stereostatic Ste`re·o·stat"ic adjective [ Stereo- + static .] (Civil. Engin.) Geostatic.

Stereotomic, Stereotomical Ste`re·o·tom"ic, Ste`re·o·tom"ic·al adjective Of or pertaining to stereotomy; performed by stereotomy.

Stereotomy Ste`re·ot"o·my noun [ Stereo- + Greek ... to cut: confer French stéréotomie .] The science or art of cutting solids into certain figures or sections, as arches, and the like; especially, the art of stonecutting.

Stereotype Ste"re·o·type noun [ Stereo- + -type : confer French stéréotype .] 1. A plate forming an exact faximile of a page of type or of an engraving, used in printing books, etc.; specifically, a plate with type-metal face, used for printing.

» A stereotype , or stereotypr plate , is made by setting movable type as for ordinary printing; from these a cast is taken in plaster of Paris, paper pulp, or the like, and upon this cast melted type metal is poured, which, when hardened, makes a solid page or column, from which the impression is taken as from type.

2. The art or process of making such plates, or of executing work by means of them.

Stereotype block , a block, usually of wood, to which a stereotype plate is attached while being used in printing.

Stereotype Ste"re·o·type transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Stereotyped ; present participle & verbal noun Stereotyping .] [ Confer French stéréotyper .] 1. To prepare for printing in stereotype; to make the stereotype plates of; as, to stereotype the Bible.

2. Fig.: To make firm or permanent; to fix.

Powerful causes tending to stereotype and aggravate the poverty of old conditions.

Duke of Argyll (1887).

Stereotyped Ste"re·o·typed adjective 1. Formed into, or printed from, stereotype plates.

2. Fig.: Formed in a fixed, unchangeable manner; as, stereotyped opinions.

Our civilization, with its stereotyped ways and smooth conventionalities.

J. C. Shairp.

Stereotyper Ste"re·o·ty`per noun One who stereotypes; one who makes stereotype plates, or works in a stereotype foundry.

Stereotypery Ste"re·o·ty`per·y noun 1. The art, process, or employment of making stereotype plates.

2. A place where stereotype plates are made; a stereotype foundry.

Stereotypic Ste`re·o·typ"ic adjective Of or pertaining to stereotype, or stereotype plates.

Stereotypist Ste"re·o·ty`pist noun A stereotyper.

Stereotypographer Ste`re·o·ty·pog"ra·pher noun A stereotype printer.

Stereotypography Ste`re·o·ty·pog"ra·phy noun [ Stereo- + typography .] The act or art of printing from stereotype plates.

Stereotypy Ste"re·o·ty`py noun [ Confer French stéréotypie .] The art or process of making stereotype plates.

Sterhydraulic Ster`hy·drau"lic adjective [ Stereo- + hydraulic .] Pertaining to, or designating, a kind of hydraulic press; resembling such a press in action or principle.

Sterhydraulic press , an hydraulic press producing pressure or motion by the introduction of a solid substance (as a long rod, or a cord wound on a roller) into a cylinder previously filled with a liquid.

Sterile Ster"ile adjective [ French stérile , Latin sterilis , akin to Greek stereo`s stiff, solid, stei^ros barren, stei^ra a cow that has not calved, Goth. stairō , fem., barren. See Stare to gaze.] 1. Producing little or no crop; barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not fertile; as, sterile land; a sterile desert; a sterile year.

2. (Biol.) (a) Incapable of reproduction; unfitted for reproduction of offspring; not able to germinate or bear fruit; unfruitful; as, a sterile flower, which bears only stamens. (b) Free from reproductive spores or germs; as, a sterile fluid.

3. Fig.: Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment; as, a sterile production or author.

Sterility Ste·ril"i·ty noun [ Latin sterilitas : confer French stérilité .] 1. The quality or condition of being sterile.

2. (Biol.) Quality of being sterile; infecundity; also, the state of being free from germs or spores.

Sterilization Ster`il·i·za"tion noun (Biol.) The act or process of sterilizing, or rendering sterile; also, the state of being sterile.

Sterilize Ster"il·ize transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Sterilized ; present participle & verbal noun Sterilizing .] [ Confer French stériliser .] 1. To make sterile or unproductive; to impoverish, as land; to exhaust of fertility. [ R.] " Sterilizing the earth." Woodward.

2. (Biol.) (a) To deprive of the power of reproducing; to render incapable of germination or fecundation; to make sterile. (b) To destroy all spores or germs in (an organic fluid or mixture), as by heat, so as to prevent the development of bacterial or other organisms.

Sterilizer Ster"il·i`zer noun One that sterilizes anything; specif., an apparatus for sterilizing an organic fluid or mixture.

Sterlet Ster"let noun [ Russian sterliade .] (Zoology) A small sturgeon ( Acipenser ruthenus ) found in the Caspian Sea and its rivers, and highly esteemed for its flavor. The finest caviare is made from its roe.

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