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Talk Talk - Communication terms Category: General technical and industrial Date & country: 28/05/2010, UK Words: 18630

chamber of commerce
Group of business people in a locality, usually a town or city, who come together to share ideas and concerns and act as a local pressure group for business

Chola dynasty
Southern Indian family of rulers that flourished in the 9th–13th centuries. Based on the banks of the Cauvery River, the Cholas overthrew their Pallava and Pandya neighbours and established themselves as the major pan-regional force. The two greatest Chola kings were Rajaraja I (reigned 985–1014) who invaded Northern Cyprus and his so...

chorus
(theatre) In classical Greek drama, the group of actors who jointly comment on the main action or advise the main characters. The action in Greek plays took place offstage; the chorus provided a link in the drama when the principals were offstage. The chorus did not always speak in unison&...

character
A person in a book or play, usually but not always fictional. It is usual to refer to the `characters` rather than the `people` created by novelists, poets, or playwrights. Characterization is the description of characters

chlorination
Treatment of water with chlorine in order to disinfect it; also, any chemical reaction in which a chlorine atom is introduced into a chemical compound

chapterhouse
In church architecture, a building in which the canonical chapter of a monastery, cathedral, or collegiate church meets for the discussion of its affairs. It is often elaborately designed and ornamented, and usually polygonal, or octagonal, as at Lichfield and York. The position of the chapterhouse is usually to the west of the transepts of the chu...

chiaroscuro
In painting and graphic art, the use of strong contrasts of light and shade for dramatic impact. This is made particularly effective where contrasting materials are represented, for example, transparent glass, shining metal, rich velvets, and glossy wood. Masters of chiaroscuro include Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, and Caravaggio. The term is also ...

Chrétien,
(Joseph Jacques) French-Canadian politician, prime minister of Canada 1993–2003. He won the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1990 and defeated Kim Campbell of the governing Progressive ConservativeParty by a landslide margin in the October 1993 election. Although himself a Québ...

chamber orchestra
Small orchestra, consisting of about 25 players, made up of a small group of strings with a selection of woodwind, either single or in pairs. This was the size of a standard orchestra until the 19th century. When the wind sections expanded, followed by an increase in the number of string players to maintain a balanced sound, the orchestra grew to t...

chest voice
The lower register of the human voice, the chest being the source of sound production. It contrasts with the higher range available from the head voice. In the 19th century and earlier there was disagreement concerning the precise use of the term, some claiming that only head (high) and chest voices exist, others claiming that a third, middle regis...

charity
Originally a Christian term meaning a selfless, disinterested form of love. This developed to include almsgiving or other actions performed by individuals to help the poor and needy. Today it refers to any independent agency (for example, Oxfam) that organizes such relief on a regular basis

Christian Democracy
Ideology of a number of parties active in Western Europe since World War II, especially in Italy, the Federal Republic of Germany, and France, and (since 1989) in central and Eastern Europe. Christian Democrats are essentially moderate conservatives who believe in a mixed economy and in the provision of social welfare. They are opposed to both comm...

Chiluba, Frederick Jacob Titus
Zambian politician and trade unionist, president 1991–2002. In 1993 he was forced to declare a state of emergency, following the discovery of documents suggesting an impending coup. He later carried out a major reorganization of his cabinet but failed to silence his critics. He secured re-election in November 1996. Raised in the Zambian co...

child labour
Work done by children less than 15 years old. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates (1996) that there are at least 250 million child labourers aged 5–14, 150 million working on a full-time basis; in some countries 20% of child workers in rural areas are aged under 10,...

Chernomyrdin, Viktor Stepanovich
Russian politician, prime minister 1992–98. A former manager in the state gas industry and communist party apparatchik, he became prime minister in December 1992 after Russia's ex-communist-dominated parliament had ousted the market reformer Yegor Gaidar. He assumed temporary control over foreign and security policy after President...

Christian Coalition
US right-wing political pressure group founded in 1989 by the television evangelist Pat Robertson. The Christian Coalition aims to `stop the moral decay of government` and to promote the election of `moral` legislators. By 1995 the group had 1.7 million members in 1,500 branches in all 50 states, making it the group with the...

Chennai
Industrial port and capital of Tamil Nadu, India, on the Bay of Bengal; population (2001 est) 4,216,300. An all-weather artificial harbour handles cotton goods, oilseeds, hides and skins, and industrial raw materials. Main industries include cotton, cement, chemicals, railway, car and bicycle manufacture, electrical-engineering, rubber,...

chat
On the Internet, the real-time exchange of messages between users of a particular system. Chat allows people who are geographically far apart to type messages to each other that are sent and received instantly. Chat or instant messaging may be offered in a dedicated application program such as Microsoft Messenger or may be a facility offered as...

Channel 4
Britain's fourth national television channel, launched in 1982 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the IBA (Independent Broadcasting Authority; now known as the ITC or Independent Television Commission). Its brief was to serve minority interests, encourage innovation through the use of independent producers, and develop a character distinct...

Channel 5
Britain's fifth television channel. Launched on 30 March 1997, it was set up by the 1990 Broadcasting Act, under which the Independent Television Commission (ITC) was required to create a fifth national channel. It was awarded by competitive tender in 1995 to Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd, a consortium of companies including Pearson, owners of the...

chrysalis
Pupa of an insect, but especially that of a butterfly or moth. It is essentially a static stage of the creature's life, when the adult insect, benefiting from the large amounts of food laid down by the actively feeding larva, is built up from the disintegrating larval tissues. The chrysalis may be exposed or within a cocoon

Charles
(V) King of France (1364–80). He was regent during the captivity of his father John II in England from 1356 to 1360, and became king upon John's death. During the Hundred Years' War he reconquered nearly all of France from England between 1369 and 1380, and diminished the power of...

Charles
(II) Holy Roman Emperor from 875 and (as Charles II) king of West Francia from 843. He was the younger son of Louis (I) `the Pious` (778–840) and warred against his brother the emperor Lothair I (c. 795–855). The Treaty of Verdun in 843 made him king of t...

chordophone
One of the four main groups of musical instrument used in the original Sachs-Hornbostel system, the others being idiophone, aerophone, and membranophone. A chordophone describes any musical instrument whose sound is produced by vibrating stretched strings by plucking, bowing, or striking. This group includes harps, violins, pianos, guitars, and...

Choral
Lutheran hymn. The German word was originally used to mean the choral parts of Latin chant, and by extension plainsong in general, a meaning which it still bears today. At the Reformation, Lutheran reform required the congregation to take a greater part in the church service and the term also came to be used for simpler monophonic singing in the ve...

Charlemagne, Charles I the Great
Click images to enlargeKing of the Franks from 768 and Holy Roman Emperor from 800. By inheritance (his father was Pepin the Short) and extensive campaigns of conquest, he united most of Western Europe by 804, when after 30 years of war the Saxons came under his control. Pepin had been mayor of the palace in Merovingian N...

Christian Aid
UK charity, founded in 1945, that raises funds for practical aid and relief operations in developing countries. Christian Aid works in over 70 countries, both alone and in partnership with other aid organizations. It aims to improve the quality of life of the poor in developing countries by helping them to help themselves. Projects include teaching...

Charles,
(William) Welsh footballer. The first British player to achieve fame in club football abroad, he scored 93 goals in 155 appearances for Juventus 1957–62, and gained three Italian championship and two Italian cup winner's medals. A tall, broadly-built striker, renowned for his head...

Chu Teh
Chinese Red Army leader; see Zhu De

Chinatown
(San Francisco, California) Residential and commercial section of downtown San Francisco on the east of Nob Hill, southeast of North Beach and northwest of the Financial District. It grew around Portsmouth Square, the site of the 1846 US takeover of the city; Grant Avenue is its main thoro...

church, medieval
In the Middle Ages (5th–15th centuries) the concept of `Christendom` was the only unifying force of a Europe split into thousands of tiny kingdoms and duchies. The Roman Catholic Church was consequently the most powerful authority in Western Europe. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, the pope, was the supreme spiritual leader of ...

Cheney, Dick
US Republican politician, vice-president from 2001. He was the youngest-ever chief of staff 1975–77 under President Gerald Ford, a member of Congress 1979–89, and defense secretary 1989–93 under President George H W Bush. He was selected in 2000 as the running-mate of Bush's son, George W Bush, to bring experience in ...

Chamberlain, Lord
In the UK, the chief officer of the royal household; see Lord Chamberlain

checking procedure
In mathematics, a way of making quick checks on the answers to calculations. There are several methods, such as rounding the calculation to make an estimate. The most appropriate to use will depend on the type of calculation being done – algebraic equations may be checked by introducing the solution to see whether the equation works. Common ch...

charcoal
(art) In art, soft, brittle material in stick or pencil form used for sketching and more free and expressive drawing, Charcoal is rich and crumbly, and smudges easily. Lines can be blended easily using fingers or a putty rubber to give great depth and body to a form. Effects vary according to ...

Christian minister
In certain Christian denominations, a religious leader. In episcopacies, churches governed by bishops such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches, there are three orders of ministry: bishops, priests, and deacons. All Christian ministers have two main responsibilities. They represent and speak for the Christian community. They a...

charismatic worship
In the Christian church, actions exhibiting uninhibited joy in the practice of the Christian faith. The term charismatic comes from the Greek word for `gifts`, and refers to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including healing, prophecy, and speaking in tongues (glossolalia). Various Christian denominations, groups, and congregations practise ...

Christian love
Core value of the Christian faith. Agape (`selfless love`) is the most spiritual of the four aspects of love recognized by the Greeks. Christians also include charity, tolerance, and respect within the term. Love is central to the two greatest commandments given by Jesus to his followers in Matthew 22:37–40:...

Christianity, early history
The activities of the disciples and first followers of Jesus and his teachings. Jesus was Jewish, as were his disciples and his first followers, and both Jesus and his disciples occasionally used the synagogues to teach. From the time of the Jewish festival of Shavuot, which is regarded as the birthday of Christianity, the Gospel (`good news&#...

chauri
In Sikhism, a ceremonial fan made of animal hair. During Sikh worship, it is held over the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book) by the granthi (reader) as a sign of respect

Chhattisgarh
State of central India, bordered by Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh; area 146,361 sq km/56,510 sq mi; population (2001 est) 20,796,000. It is a rural and economically impoverished area, and was separated from Madhya Pradesh in 2000 in an effort to promote greater stability and prosperity...

Christian ethics
Questions of right and wrong considered within a Christian context. In Christianity, the Bible, the church, and prayer influence Christians when making decisions concerned with right and wrong. Concern for others, as demonstrated through Christian love (Greek agape), is a guiding principle for all Christians, while the Ten Comman...

church
(community) The whole body of the general Christian community, or a subdivision or denomination of it. The church as a community of believers represents the body of Jesus. It includes both those who are alive (the Church Militant) and those who have died and are in heaven (the Church Triumphan...

Christian faith in action
The application of the principles of Christianity to the everyday lives of the followers of that religion. Christians believe that the love of God and the love of humanity cannot be separated. They believe that if they show true Christian love in their thoughts and actions, they will not do anything to hurt or anger either God or fellow human being...

Chasidism
Alternative term for the Orthodox Jewish Hasidic sect

challah
In Judaism, traditional plaited bread used in the celebration of the Sabbath or a holy festival. It symbolizes the food for body and spirit provided by God. Two loaves are blessed, representing the double portion of manna that God provided on Fridays when the Hebrews were in the desert. Salt may be sprinkled on the bread to commemorate the Temple s...

Chandigarh
(territory) Union Territory of north India, located on the plain just south of the Shiwalik Hills, about 240 km/150 mi north of New Delhi, and bounded to the east by the state of Haryana and on all other sides by the state of Punjab; area 114 sq km/44 sq mi; population (2001 es...

cinema
Form of art and entertainment consisting of moving pictures, in either black and white or colour, projected on a screen. Cinema draws on other arts, such as literature, drama, and music. Its development, beginning in the 1890s, has been closely linked to technological advances, including action and colour photography, sound reproduction, and film p...

civil engineering
Branch of engineering that is concerned with the construction of roads, bridges, airports, aqueducts, waterworks, tunnels, canals, irrigation works, and harbours. Civil engineering was first recognized as a separate profession from architecture and military engineering by the French. They established a department concerned with roads and bridges wh...

citrus
Click images to enlargeAny of a group of evergreen and aromatic trees or shrubs, found in warm parts of the world. Several species – the orange, lemon, lime, citron, and grapefruit – are cultivated for their fruit. (Genus Citrus, family Rutaceae.)

cinnabar
Mercuric sulphide mineral, HgS, the only commercially useful ore of mercury. It is deposited in veins and impregnations near recent volcanic rocks and hot springs. The mineral itself is used as a red pigment, commonly known as vermilion. Cinnabar is found in the USA (California), Spain (Almadén), Peru, Italy, and Slovenia

civil aviation
Operation of passenger and freight transport by air. With increasing traffic, control of air space is a major problem. In the USA, the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) is responsible for regulating development of aircraft, air navigation, traffic control, and communications and the Civil Aeronautics Board prescribes safety regulations and investigates...

cinquefoil
Any of a group of plants that usually have five-lobed leaves and brightly coloured flowers. They are widespread in northern temperate regions. (Genus Potentilla, family Rosaceae.)

cinnamon
Dried inner bark of a tree belonging to the laurel family, grown in India and Sri Lanka. The bark is ground to make the spice used in curries and confectionery. Oil of cinnamon is obtained from waste bark and is used as flavouring in food and medicine. (Cinnamomum zeylanicum, family Lauraceae.)

cinchona
Any of a group of tropical American shrubs or trees belonging to the madder family. The drug quinine is produced from the bark of some species, and these are now cultivated in India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Indonesia. (Genus Chinchona, family Rubiaceae.)

CITES
International agreement under the auspices of the World Conservation Union with the aim of regulating trade in endangered species of animals and plants. The text of the convention was agreed by members of 80 countries in Washington, DC, on 3 March 1973 and came into force on 1 July 1975. By 2004, 160 countries had signed up for the convention. It p...

cistron
In genetics, the segment of DNA that is required to synthesize a complete polypeptide chain. It is the molecular equivalent of a gene

circadian rhythm
Metabolic rhythm found in most organisms, which roughly coincides with the 24-hour day and is re-adjusted to precise day-length by light-sensitive mechanisms. Its most obvious manifestation is the regular cycle of sleeping and waking, but body temperature and the concentration of hormones that influence mood and behaviour also vary ...

civet
Click images to enlargeSmall to medium-sized carnivorous mammal found in Africa and Asia, belonging to the family Viverridae, which also includes mongooses and genets. Distant relations of cats, they generally have longer jaws and more teeth. All have a scent gland in the inguinal (groin) region. Extracts from this gl...

cichlid
Any freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. Cichlids are somewhat perchlike, but have a single nostril on each side instead of two. They are mostly predatory, and have deep, colourful bodies, flattened from side to side so that some are almost disc-shaped. Many are territorial in the breeding season and may show care of the young. There are mo...

cicada
Any of several insects of the family Cicadidae. Most species are tropical, but a few occur in Europe and North America. The adults live on trees, whose juices they suck. The males produce a loud, almost continuous, chirping by vibrating membranes in resonating cavities in the abdomen. Cicadas with a ...

cilia
Small hairlike organs on the surface of some cells, particularly the cells lining the upper respiratory tract. Their wavelike movements waft particles of dust and debris towards the exterior. Some single-celled organisms move by means of cilia. In multicellular animals, they keep lubricated surfaces clear of debris. They also move food in the d...

circulatory system
Click images to enlargeSystem of vessels in an animal's body that transports essential substances (blood or other circulatory fluid) to and from the different parts of the body. It was first discovered and described by English physician William Harvey. All animals except for the most simple – such as sponges, jel...

Civil War, Spanish
War (1936–39) precipitated by a military revolt led by General Franco against the Republican government. Inferior military capability led to the gradual defeat of the Republicans by 1939, and the establishment of Franco's dictatorship. Franco's insurgents (Nationalists, who were supported by fascist Italy and Nazi Germany) seized power...

Civil War, American
Click images to enlargeWar (1861–65) between the Southern or Confederate States of America (see Confederacy) and the Northern or Union states. The former wished to maintain certain `states' rights`, in particular the right to determine state law on the institution of slavery, and claimed the right to se...

civil list
In the UK, the annual sum provided from public funds to meet the official expenses of the sovereign and immediate dependents; private expenses are met by the privy purse

City of London
Inner borough and autonomous district of central Greater London, England; population (2001) 7,200. A compact area, sometimes known as the Square Mile (2.59 sq km/1 sq mi), it is the financial hub of the UK and one of the world's leading centres of business and trade. The City controls the full span of London Bridge, but only half of the...

citizenship
Status as a member of a state. In most countries citizenship may be acquired either by birth or by naturalization. The status confers rights such as voting and the protection of the law and also imposes responsibilities such as military service, in some countries

Cistercian order
Roman Catholic monastic order established at Cîteaux in 1098 by St Robert de Champagne, abbot of Molesmes, as a stricter form of the Benedictine order. Living mainly by agricultural labour, the Cistercians made many advances in farming methods in the Middle Ages. The Trappists, so called after the original house at La Trappe in Normandy (found...

Ciskei
Part of the former independent Black National State within South Africa, independent from 1981 (but not recognized by the United Nations) until 1994 when it was re-integrated into South Africa, in Eastern Cape Province. The region covered an area of 7,700 sq km/2,970 sq mi, and produces wheat, sorghum, sunflower, vegetables, timber, metal p...

circumcision
Surgical removal of all or part of the foreskin (prepuce) of the penis, usually performed on the newborn; it is practised among Jews (b'rit milah) and Muslims as a sign of God's covenant with the prophet Abraham. In some societies in Africa and the Middle East, female circumcision or clitoridectomy (removal of the labia minora and/o...

Circe
In Greek mythology, an enchantress living on the island of Aeaea. In Homer's Odyssey, she turned the followers of Odysseus into pigs. Odysseus, protected by the herb moly provided by Hermes, messenger of the gods, forced her to release his men. The hero remained with her for a year, and she bore him a son, Telegonus. In one t...

Cid, El, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar
Spanish soldier, nicknamed El Cid (`the lord`) by the Moors. Born in Castile of a noble family, he fought against the king of Navarre and won his nickname el Campeador (`the Champion`) by killing the Navarrese champion in single combat. Essentially a mercenary, fighting both with and against the Moors, he died...

Civil War, English
Conflict between King Charles I and the Royalists (also called Cavaliers) on one side and the Parliamentarians (also called Roundheads) on the other. Their differences centred initially on the king's unconstitutional acts, but later became a struggle over the relative powers of crown and Parliame...

civil service
Body of administrative staff employed to carry out the policy of a government. Members of the UK civil service may not take any active part in politics, and do not change with the government. In the USA, federal employees are restricted in the role they may play in political activity, and also retain their posts (except at senior levels) when there...

civil disobedience
Deliberate breaking of laws considered unjust, a form of nonviolent direct action; the term was coined by the US writer Henry Thoreau in an essay of that name in 1849. It was advocated by Mahatma Gandhi to prompt peaceful withdrawal of British power from India. Civil disobedience has since been employed by, for instance, the US civil-rights...

civil defence
Organized activities by the civilian population of a state to defend against and reduce the effects of enemy attack. Civil defence worldwide During World War II civil-defence efforts were centred on providing adequate warning of air raids to permit the civilian population to reach shelter; then firefighting, food, rescue, communications, an...

city
Generally, a large and important town. In the Middle East and historic Europe, and in the ancient civilizations of Mexico and Peru, cities were states in themselves. In the early Middle Ages, European cities were usually those towns that were episcopal sees (seats of bishops). Cities cover only 2% of the Earth's surface but use 75% of a...

citizens' band
Short-range radio communication facility (frequency around 27 MHz) used by members of the public in the USA and many European countries to talk to one another or call for emergency assistance

cithara
Ancient musical instrument resembling a lyre but with a flat back. It was strung with wire and plucked with a plectrum or (after the 16th century) with the fingers. The bandurria and laud, still popular in Spain, are instruments of the same type

Cisalpine Gaul
Region of the Roman province of Gallia (northern Italy) south of the Alps; Transalpine Gaul, the region north of the Alps, comprised what is now Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The Cisalpine Republic in northern Italy was the creation of Napoleon 1797, known as the Italian Republic 1802–04 and the Kingdom of Italy 1804&#...

circumference
In geometry, the curved line that encloses a curved plane figure, for example a circle or an ellipse. Its length varies according to the nature of the curve, and may be ascertained by the appropriate formula. The circumference of a circle is πd or 2πr, ...

Cinque Ports
Group of ports in southern England, originally five, Sandwich, Dover, Hythe, Romney, and Hastings, later including Rye, Winchelsea, and others. Probably founded in Roman times, they rose to importance after the Norman conquest and until the end of the 15th century were bound to supply the ships and men necessary against invasion. Their importance d...

Cincinnatus, Lucius Quinctius
Roman general. Having served as consul in 460 BC, he retired from political life to work on his farm. However, he was called back and appointed dictator in 458 BC, and he defeated the Aequi (an Italian people) in a brief campaign. Having held office for just 16 days, he returned to his farm and resumed life as a yeoman farmer. He became a legend fo...

Cimabue, Giovanni
Italian painter. Active in Florence, he is traditionally styled the `father of Italian painting`. His paintings retain the golden background of Byzantine art but the figures have a new naturalism. Among the works attributed to him are Maestà (c. 1280; Uffizi, Florence), a huge Gothic image of...

cine camera
Camera that takes a rapid sequence of still photographs called frames. When the frames are projected one after the other on to a screen, they appear to show movement, because our eyes hold on to the image of one picture until the next one appears

circuit breaker
Switching device designed to protect an electric circuit from overloads such as excessive current flows and voltage failures. It has the same action as a fuse, and many houses now have a circuit breaker between the incoming mains supply and the domestic circuits. Circuit breakers usually work by means of magnetic-type relays or solenoids. Those...

circus
Entertainment, often held in a large tent (`big top`), involving performing animals, acrobats, and clowns. In 1871 P T Barnum created the `Greatest Show on Earth` in the USA. The popularity of animal acts decreased in the 1980s. Originally, in Roman times, a circus was an arena for chariot races and gladiatorial combats

Cibachrome
In photography, a process of printing directly from transparencies. It can be home-processed and the rich, saturated colours are highly resistant to fading. It was introduced in 1963

civil rights
Rights of the individual citizen. In many countries they are specified (as in the Bill of Rights of the US constitution) and guaranteed by law to ensure equal treatment for all citizens. In the USA, the struggle to obtain civil rights for former slaves and their descendants, both through legislation and in practice, has been a major theme since the...

CinemaScope
Trade name for a wide-screen process using anamorphic lenses, in which images are compressed during filming and then extended during projection over a wide curved screen. The process was invented by French physicist Henri Chrétien in the late 1920s. The first film to be made in CinemaScope was The Robe (1953), but by the...

Cinerama
Wide-screen process devised in 1937 by Fred Waller of Paramount's special-effects department. Originally three 35-mm cameras and three projectors were used to record and project a single image. Three aspects of the image were recorded and then projected on a large curved screen, with the result that the images blended together to pr...

cinéma vérité
School of documentary film-making that aims to capture real events and situations as they occur without major directorial, editorial, or technical control. It first came into vogue around 1960 with the advent of lightweight cameras and sound equipment. Notable proponents of the style include the French directors Jean Rouch and Chris Marker. The...

city technology college
In the UK, one of a network of some 20 proposed schools, financed jointly by government and industry, designed to teach the National Curriculum with special emphasis on technological subjects in inner-city areas to students aged 11 to 18. The first school was opened in 1988. By 1994 only 15 schools had opened in England and Wales (still 15 in m...

citric acid
Organic acid widely distributed in the plant kingdom; it is found in high concentrations in citrus fruits and has a sharp, sour taste. At one time it was commercially prepared from concentrated lemon juice, but now the main source is the fermentation of sugar with certain moulds. In biochemistry, citric acic plays a key role in metabolism, as t...

cider
In the UK, a fermented drink made from the juice of the apple; in the USA, the term cider usually refers to unfermented (non-alcoholic) apple juice. Cider has been made for more than 2,000 years, and for many centuries has been a popular drink in France and England, which are now its main centres of production. The French output is by far t...

cigar
Compact roll of cured tobacco leaves, contained in a binder leaf, which in turn is surrounded by a wrapper leaf. The cigar was originally a sheath of palm leaves filled with tobacco, smoked by the Indians of Central America. Cigar smoking was introduced into Spain soon after 1492 and spread all over Europe in the next few centuries. From about 1890...

cigarette
Thin paper tube stuffed with shredded tobacco for smoking, now usually plugged with a filter. The first cigarettes were the papelitos smoked in South America about 1750. The habit spread to Spain and then throughout the world; today it is the most general form of tobacco smoking, although it is dangerous to the health of both...

CIA
Abbreviation for the US Central Intelligence Agency

CID
Abbreviation for the UK Criminal Investigation Department