ExpertGlossary terms starting with A

3,515 terms

Allegation A statement of the issues in a written document (a pleading) which a person is prepared to prove in court.
allegation of use a sworn statement signed by the applicant or a person authorized to sign on behalf of the applicant attesting to use of the mark in commerce.
Allegra (uh-LEH-gruh) A drug used to treat certain allergy symptoms. It blocks a chemical released during an allergic response that causes itching, sneezing…
allele A variant form of a gene. In a diploid cell there are two alleles of every gene (one inherited from each parent, although they could be identical).
allele frequency The relative number of copies of an allele in a population, expressed as a proportion of the total number of copies of all alleles at a given locus in a…
allele-specific amplification (Abbreviation: ASA). The use of the polymerase chain reaction at a sufficiently high stringency that only one allele is amplified.
Alleles Alternate forms of a gene or DNA sequence, which occur on either of two homologous chromosomes in a diploid organism. (See DNA polymorphism.)
allelic (adj.) See allele.
allelic exclusion A phenomenon whereby only one functional allele of an antibody gene can be assembled in a given B lymphocyte.
allelomorph See: allele.
Allelopathy The secretion of chemicals, such as phenolic and terpenoid compounds, by a plant's roots, which inhibit the growth or reproduction of competitor plants.
allergen (AL-er-jen) A substance that causes an allergic response. Examples include pollen, molds, and certain foods.
allergic response (uh-LER-jik reh-SPONTS) A hypersensitive immune reaction to a substance that normally is harmless or would not cause an immune response in most people.
Allergy An abnormally high sensitivity to certain substances, such as pollens, foods, or microorganisms.
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) The group of Pacific and Caribbean nations who call for relatively fast action by developed nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Allocated Availability Requirement The requirement probability that an element is available to perform its function as allocated by the SDS.
Allocation (1) An authorization by a designated official of a DoD component making funds available within a prescribed amount to an operating agency for the purpose…
allocation (of a frequency band) Entry in the Table of Frequency Allocations of a given frequency band for the purpose of its use by one or more (terrestrial or space) radiocommunication…
Allochthonous Exotic species of a given area. Also refers to deposits of material that originated elsewhere, e.g., drifted plant material on the bottom of a lake.
Allocution An oral pleading or argument made to the court at sentencing by counsel for the defendant, the defendant, and the prosecutor.
allogamy Cross fertilization in plants. See: fertilization.
Allogeneic (A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik) Taken from different individuals of the same species. Also called allogenic.
allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik bone MAYR-oh tranz-plan-TAY-shun) A procedure in which a person receives stem cells (cells from which all blood cells develop) from a…
Allogeneic cell transplantation Transplantation of cells from one individual to another of the same species.
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant A transplant involving the infusion of a donor's genetically matched bone marrow or stem cells to produce new, healthy marrow.
allogeneic stem cell transplantation (A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik stem sel tranz-plan-TAY-shun) A procedure in which a person receives blood-forming stem cells (cells from which all blood cells develop)…
Allogeneic transplantation Cell, tissue or organ transplants from one member of a species to a genetically different member of the same species.
allogenic Taken from different individuals of the same species. Also called allogeneic.
allometric When the growth rate of one part of an organism differs from that of another part or of the rest of the body.
allopathic medicine (A-loh-PA-thik MEH-dih-sin) A system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat…
Allopatric In the context of natural populations of animals or plants, inhabiting distinct and separate areas.
allopatric speciation Speciation occurring at least in part because of geographic isolation.
allopolyploid A polyploid organism with sets of chromosomes derived from different species. Opposite: autopolyploid.
allopurinol A drug that lowers high levels of uric acid (a byproduct of metabolism) in the blood caused by some cancer treatments.
allosome Synonym for sex chromosome.
allosteric control See: allosteric regulation.
allosteric enzyme An enzyme that has two structurally distinct forms, one of which is active and the other inactive.
allosteric regulation A catalysis-regulating process in which the binding of a small effector molecule to one site on an enzyme affects the activity at another site.
allosteric site That part of an enzyme molecule where the non-covalent binding of an effector molecule can affect the enzyme's catalytic activity.
allosteric transition A reversible interaction of a small molecule with a protein molecule, resulting in a change in the shape of the protein and consequent alteration of the…
allotetraploid An allopolyploid having two different progenitor genomes.
Allotment An area of land where one or more livestock operators graze their livestock. Allotments generally consist of BLM lands but may also include other…
allotment (of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel) Entry of a designated frequency channel in an agreed plan, adopted by a component Conference, for use by one or more administrations for a (terrestrial or…
allotype A classification of antibody molecules according to the antigenicity of the constant regions; a variation that is determined by a single allele.
Allovectin-7 A substance that is being studied as a gene therapy agent in the treatment of cancer.
allow An allow results from a statement that has effect=allow, assuming any stated conditions are met. Example: Allow requests received before 1:00 p.m.
Allow phrase A custom word or phrase that the administrator sets for the Content Filter agent to enable the processing of e-mail messages to Exchange Server 2007…
Allowable bearing capacity The maximum pressure that can be permitted on foundation soil, giving consideration to all pertinent factors, with adequate safety against rupture of the…
Allowable Costs Allowable costs are items eligible to be funded under the COPS MORE Program. COPS MORE provides for the funding of equipment, technology, and/or salaries…
Allowable pile bearing load The maximum load that can be permitted on a pile with adequate safety against movement of such magnitude that the structure is endangered.
Allowance A decision by a patent office that an applicant is entitled to a patent on an invention. MPEP 1303.
Allowance, Notice of A written notice by a patent office that an applicant is entitled to a patent on an invention. In the U.S.
Allowed Amount Maximum amount on which payment is based for covered health care services. This may be called “eligible expense,” “payment allowance" or "negotiated…
allozygote A individual that is heterozygous for two different mutant allele s.
allozyme See: allosteric enzyme.
AllTheWeb Search engine which was created by Fast, then bought by Overture, which was bought by Yahoo.
Alluvial Formed by the action of running water; of or related to river and stream deposits.
Alluvial fan A fan-shaped depositional landform consisting of alluvial deposits that formed where a flowing stream slows and spreads out (depositing its load)…
Alluvial flats Small flat areas or plains (with slopes of less than 5 or 10 feet per mile) built of fine sediments deposited during flooding events.
Alluvial plains Small flat areas or plains (with slopes of less than 5 or 10 feet per mile) built of fine sediments deposited during flooding events.
Alluvial valley An alluvium-filled basin, usually occurring between mountain ranges.
Alluvian fan terrace A relict landform consisting of thick gravel, sand, and boulder deposits occurring along mountain fronts.
Alluvium Deposits of clay, silt, sand, gravel, or other particulate materials that have been deposited by a stream or other body of running water in a streambed…
ALO Alpha Laser Optimization.
ALOD Adaptive Locally Optimum Detector (Navy term).
aloe-emodin A substance found in certain plants, including aloe vera. It belongs to a family of compounds called anthraquinones, which have shown anti-inflammatory…
Along-slope Wind System A closed, thermally driven diurnal mountain wind circulation whose lower branch blows up or down the sloping sidewalls of a valley or mountain.
alopecia (al-oh-PEE-shuh) The lack or loss of hair from areas of the body where hair is usually found. Alopecia can be a side effect of some cancer treatments.
Aloxi (uh-LOK-see) A drug used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatment. It is a type of serotonin receptor antagonist and a type of antiemetic.
ALP Animas-La Plata Project.
Alpha A stock's alpha is an analyst's estimate of its potential price increase based on the rate at which the company's earnings are growing and other aspects…
alpha globulin See: haptoglobin.
alpha hydroxyl acid (AL-fuh hy-DROK-sil A-sid) One of a group of substances that are found in several types of fruit and in milk.
Alpha Particle A positively charged particle, indistinguishable from a helium atom nucleus and consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
Alpha particle (alpha radiation, alpha ray) A positively charged particle (a Helium-4 nucleus) made up of two neutrons and two protons.
alpha profile See power-law index profile.
alpha radiation Same as alpha particle.
Alpha Subclasses In the U.S. patent classification system, subclassed that have an alphabetical suffix. MPEP 902.01.
alpha-fetoprotein (AL-fuh-FEE-toh-PROH-teen) A protein normally produced by a fetus. AFP levels are usually undetectable in the blood of healthy adult men or women (who are…
alpha-lipoic acid (AL-fuh-lih-POH-ik A-sid) A substance that is being studied for its ability to protect normal cells from the side effects of chemotherapy and prevent…
alphabet An ordered set of all the letters used in a language, including letters with diacritical signs where appropriate, but not including punctuation marks. 2.
alphabet translation Deprecated synonym for alphabet transliteration. See alphabet transliteration.
alphabet transliteration The substitution of the characters of one alphabet for the corresponding characters of a different alphabet, usually accomplished on a…
alphabetic character set A character set that contains letters and may contain control characters, special characters, and the yyspace character, but not digits.
alphabetic code A code according to which data are represented through the use of an alphabetic character set.
alphabetic filing system A filing system in which files and documents are arranged in alphabetic order from A to Z See also numeric filing system.
alphabetic string A string consisting solely of letters from the same alphabet. 2. A character string consisting solely of letters and associated special characters from…
alphabetic word A word consisting solely of letters from the same alphabet. 2. A word that consists of letters and associated special characters, but not digits.
alphanumeric Characters composed of letters, numbers (and sometimes punctuation marks). Excludes control characters.
alphanumeric character set A character set that contains both letters and digits, special characters, and the yyspace character.
alphanumeric code A code derived from an alphanumeric character set. 2. A code that, when used, results in a code set that consists of alphanumeric characters.
alphanumeric data Data represented by letters, digits, and sometimes by special characters and the yyspace character.
Alpine Refers to high mountain areas above the timberline (where trees cease to inhabit extremely cold environments).
Alpine tundra Vegetation in montane habitats above the tree line. Vegetation consists of perennial forbs, grasses, sedges, and short woody shrubs.
alprazolam (al-PRAY-zoh-lam) A drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. It is being studied in the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by some…
alprostadil (al-PROS-tuh-dil) A drug that is used to treat impotence (inability to have an erection) and is being studied in the treatment of sexual problems in men…
ALPS Accidental Launch Protection System.
ALQDS All Quadrants
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act California seismic zoning act passed in 1972, in response to the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, to prevent building across the traces of active faults.
ALS Advanced Launch System.