Copy of `Princeton University - WordNet - a lexical database for the English language`

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Princeton University - WordNet - a lexical database for the English language Category: General Date & country: 27/01/2008, USA Words: 85192

spindrift
spoondrift noun spray blown up from the surface of the sea

spine
noun a sharp rigid animal process or appendage; as a porcupine quill or a ridge on a bone or a ray of a fish fin

spine-tipped
adjective of a plant tipped with a spine

spinel
noun a hard glassy mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum; occurs in various colors that are used as gemstones

spinel ruby
ruby spinel noun a spinel used as a gemstone (usually dark red)

spineless
adjective lacking spiny processes; `spineless fins`

spinelessness
noun the quality of lacking a strong character; an irresolute disposition

spinet
noun early model harpsichord with only one string per note

spinnability
noun the quality of being suitable for spinning or the capability of being spun (used of textile fibers)

spinnable
spinnbar adjective capable of being spun into fibres

spinnaker
noun a large and usually triangular headsail; carried by a yacht as a headsail when running before the wind

spinnbarkeit
noun the capacity of a viscous liquid (especially the cervical mucus) to be drawn out into a strand or blown up into a bubble

spinner
noun fisherman`s lure; revolves when drawn through the water

spinney
noun a copse that shelters game

spinning
noun creating thread

spinning frame
noun spinning machine that draws, twists, and winds yarn

spinning jenny
noun an early spinning machine with multiple spindles

spinning machine
noun a textile machine for spinning yarn and thread

spinning rod
noun a fishing rod designed for casting a spinning lure

spinning wheel
noun a small domestic spinning machine with a single spindle that is driven by hand or foot

spinocerebellar disorder
noun any of several congenital disorders marked by degeneration of the cerebellum and spinal cord resulting in spasticity and ataxia

spinose
adjective having spines

spinous
spiny adjective having spines; `the dorsal fin is spinous`

Spinoza
de Spinoza noun Dutch philosopher who espoused a pantheistic system (1632-1677)

spinster
old maid noun an elderly unmarried woman

spinsterhood
noun the state of being a spinster (usually an elderly unmarried woman)

Spinus
genus Spinus noun in some classifications considered a subgenus of Carduelis: siskins and New World goldfinches

spiny dogfish
noun small bottom-dwelling dogfishes

spiny lobster
langouste noun large edible marine crustacean having a spiny carapace but lacking the large pincers of true lobsters

spiny puffer
noun puffers having rigid or erectile spines

spiny softshell
Trionyx spiniferus noun river turtle of western United States with a warty shell; prefers quiet water

spiny talinum
Talinum spinescens noun low cushion-forming plant with rose to crimson-magenta flowers and leaf midribs that persist as spines when the leaves die; southwestern United States

spiny-backed
adjective having the back covered with spines

spiny-edged
adjective having a spiny border

spiny-finned
adjective of or relating to fish with spiny fins

spiny-finned fish
acanthopterygian noun a teleost fish with fins that are supported by sharp inflexible rays

spiny-leaved
spiny-leafed adjective having spiny leaves

spiny-stemmed
adjective having a spiny stem

spiracle
noun a breathing orifice

Spiraea
genus Spiraea noun a dicotyledonous genus of the family Rosaceae

spiraea
noun a Japanese shrub that resembles members of the genus Spiraea; widely cultivated in many varieties for its dense panicles of flowers in many colors; often forced by florists for Easter blooming

spiral
noun flying downward in a helical path with a large radius

spiral bandage
noun an oblique bandage in which successive turns overlap preceding turns

spiral galaxy
spiral nebula noun a galaxy having a spiral structure; arms containing younger stars spiral out from old stars at the center

spiral ratchet screwdriver
ratchet screwdriver noun a screwdriver with a ratchet (so the blade turns in only one direction) and a spiral in the handle (so the blade rotates) with downward pressure on the handle

spiral spring
noun a spring that is wound like a spiral

spiral-shelled
adjective having a shell that forms a spiral

spirally
adverb with spirals; `spirally fluted handles`

Spiranthes
genus Spiranthes noun large cosmopolitan genus of white-flowered terrestrial orchids

spirea
noun a Japanese shrub that resembles members of the genus Spiraea; widely cultivated in many varieties for its dense panicles of flowers in many colors; often forced by florists for Easter blooming

spirilla
noun any flagellated aerobic bacteria having a spirally twisted rodlike form

Spirillaceae
family Spirillaceae noun rigid spirally curved elongate bacteria

spirillum
noun any flagellated aerobic bacteria having a spirally twisted rodlike form

spirit
noun a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one`s character

spirit away
verb carry off mysteriously; as if by magic

spirit gum
noun an adhesive solution made of gum and ether and used to attach false hair to skin

spirit lamp
noun a lamp that burns a volatile liquid fuel such as alcohol

spirit off
verb carry off mysteriously; as if by magic

spirit rapper
noun someone who claims to receive messages from the dead in the form of raps on a table

spirit stove
noun a stove that burns a volatile liquid fuel such as alcohol

spirit world
noun any imaginary place where spiritual beings (demons or fairies or angels or the like) abide; `science has emptied the spirit world of its former inhabitants`

spirited
adjective displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness

spiritedly
adverb in a spirited or lively manner; with animation and vivacity

spiritedness
invigoration noun quality of being active or spirited or alive and vigorous

spiritless
adjective lacking ardor or vigor or energy; `a spiritless reply to criticism`

spirits of ammonia
sal volatile noun a solution of ammonium carbonate in ammonia water and alcohol

spirits of wine
noun rectified ethyl alcohol

spiritual
unearthly adjective concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul; `a spiritual approach to life`; `spiritual fulfillment`; `spiritual values`; `unearthly love`

spiritual being
supernatural being noun an incorporeal being believed to have powers to affect the course of human events

spiritual bouquet
noun (Roman Catholic Church) a card indicating that the sender will perform certain devotional acts on behalf of another

spiritual leader
noun a leader in religious or sacred affairs

spiritual world
unseen noun a belief that there is a realm controlled by a divine spirit

spiritualism
noun the belief that the spirits of dead people can communicate with people who are still alive (especially via a medium)

spiritualistic
spiritualist adjective of or relating to or connected with spiritualism

spirituality
spiritualism noun concern with things of the spirit

spiritualization
spiritualisation noun the act of making something spiritual; infusing it with spiritual content

spiritually
adverb in a spiritual manner; `the ninth century was the spiritually freest period`

spiritualty
spirituality noun property or income owned by a church

spirituous
spiritous adjective containing or of the nature of alcohol; `spiritous beverages`; `spirituous liquors`

Spirochaeta
genus Spirochaeta noun the type genus of the family Spirochaetaceae; a bacterium that is flexible, undulating, and chiefly aquatic

Spirochaetaceae
family Spirochaetaceae noun large coarsely spiral bacteria; free-living in fresh or salt water or commensal in bodies of oysters

Spirochaetales
order Spirochaetales noun higher bacteria; slender spiral rodlike forms

spirochete
spirochaete noun parasitic or free-living bacteria; many pathogenic to humans and other animals

Spirodela
genus Spirodela noun minute aquatic herbs floating on the water surface consisting of a shiny leaflike frond and 2-21 roots

spirogram
noun a recording of breathing made with a spirograph

spirograph
noun a measuring instrument for recording the depth and rapidity of breathing movements

spirogyra
noun freshwater algae consisting of minute filaments containing spiral chlorophyll bands

spirometer
noun a measuring instrument for measuring the vital capacity of the lungs

spirometry
noun the use of a spirometer to measure vital capacity

spironolactone
Aldactone noun a synthetic corticosteroid (trade name Aldactone) used to treat hypertension

spirt
spout verb gush forth in a sudden stream or jet; `water gushed forth`

spirula
Spirula peronii noun a small tropical cephalopod of the genus Spirula having prominent eyes and short arms and a many-chambered shell coiled in a flat spiral

Spirulidae
family Spirulidae noun coextensive with the genus Spirula; included in the order Belemnoidea in some older classifications

spit
spitting noun the act of spitting (forcefully expelling saliva)

spit and polish
noun careful attention to order and appearance (as in the military)

spit curl
kiss curl noun a spiral curl plastered on the forehead or cheek

spitball
spitter noun an illegal pitch in which a foreign substance (spit or Vaseline) is applied to the ball by the pitcher before he throws it

spitefully
with spite adverb in a spiteful manner; `he answered his accusers spitefully`

spitfire
noun a highly emotional and quick-tempered person (especially a girl or woman)

Spitsbergen
Spitzbergen noun islands in the Svalbard archipelago east of northern Greenland; belonging to Norway