ExpertGlossary terms starting with A

3,515 terms

  1. Assured Kill This option requires defense segments to employ tactics, which produce the highest probability of kill consistent with the available number of defensive…
  2. AST (1) See Airborne Surveillance Testbed . (2) Advanced Sensor Technology.
  3. asthenia Weakness; lack of energy and strength.
  4. asthma (AZ-muh) A chronic disease in which the bronchial airways in the lungs become narrowed and swollen, making it difficult to breathe.
  5. ASTM Abbreviation for the American Society for Testing and Materials, which is responsible for the issue of many standard methods used in the energy industry.
  6. ASTMP Army Science and Technology Master Plan
  7. ASTP Advanced Sensor Technology Program
  8. Astrocyte (AS-troh-site) A star-shaped cell that helps nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord work the way they should. An astrocyte is a type of glial cell.
  9. astrocytoma (AS-troh-sy-TOH-muh) A tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord in small, star-shaped cells called astrocytes.
  10. Astronomical Dawn The time at which the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Astronomical dawn is that point in time at which the sun starts lightening the…
  11. Astronomical Dusk This is the time at which the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the evening. At this time the sun no longer illuminates the sky.
  12. Astronomical Unit (abbrev. AU)- The mean earth-sun distance, equal to 1.496x1013 cm, or 214.94 solar radii.
  13. ASTS above ground storage tanks.
  14. ASWG Architecture Systems Working Group.
  15. Asylee A person who cannot return to his home country because of a well-founded fear of persecution.
  16. Asymmetric Not similar in size, shape, form or arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a line, point or plane.
  17. asymmetric compression A data compression technique that requires more processing capability to compress than to decompress.
  18. asymmetric cryptographic algorithm A cryptographic formula that uses two related keys-a public key and a private key-each of which has the characteristic algorithm that, given the public…
  19. asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) An access technology that allows voice and high-speed data to be sent simultaneously over local exchange service copper facilities; the technology…
  20. asymmetric encryption An encryption system that utilizes two keys, one called a public key (which is known to both the sender and the recipient of encrypted data), and the…
  21. asymmetric hybrid A hybrid formed, usually via protoplast fusion, between two donors, where the chromosome complement of one of the donors is incomplete.
  22. Asymmetric Keys Two related keys, a public key and a private key that are used to perform complementary operations, such as encryption and decryption or signature…
  23. Asymmetric Multi-Processing Multi-processing using two or more processors that are not equivalent in their capabilities and their use.
  24. asymmetrical cluster A cluster that has more nodes at one site than at another. For example, an asymmetrical metropolitan cluster may have two nodes in one building, and three…
  25. asymmetrical modulator Synonym unbalanced modulator.
  26. asymmetry Lack or absence of balanced proportions between parts of a thing.
  27. asymptomatic Having no signs or symptoms of disease.
  28. asynapsis The failure or partial failure in the pairing of homologous chromosomes during the first meiotic prophase.
  29. asynchronous Said of events or activities whose relative temporal ordering is indeterminate because too many things are going on at once.
  30. asynchronous communications system A data communications system that uses asynchronous operation. Note: The time spacing between successive data characters or blocks may be of arbitrary…
  31. asynchronous data replication Local I/O will complete without waiting for the replicated I/O to complete; however, it is expected that asynchronous data replication will process the…
  32. Asynchronous Data Transfer A method of SCSI data transfer which is not synchronized to a set timing interval.
  33. Asynchronous Generator A type of electric generator that produces alternating current that matches an existing power source.
  34. asynchronous multiplexed transmission system A multiplexed transmission system in which the rates of the carrier and its tributaries are not traceable to the same master clocking source.
  35. asynchronous network A network in which the clocks do not need to be synchronous or mesochronous. Synonym nonsynchronous network.
  36. asynchronous operation A sequence of operations in which operations are executed out of time coincidence with any event. 2.
  37. Asynchronous Replication After data has been written to the primary storage site, new writes to that site can be accepted, without having to wait for the secondary (remote)…
  38. asynchronous time-division multiplexing (ATDM) Time-division multiplexing in which asynchronous transmission is used.
  39. asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) A network technology that combines the features of cell-switching and multiplexing to offer reliable and efficient network services.
  40. asynchronous transmission Data transmission in which the instant that each character, or block of characters, starts is arbitrary; once started, the time of occurrence of each…
  41. asynchronous working Synonym asynchronous operation.
  42. AT Advanced Technology
  43. AT Commands A de facto standard for modem commands from an attached CPU, used in most 1,200 and 2,400 b/s modems.
  44. At-rest earth pressure The value of the earth pressure when the soil mass is in its natural state without having been permitted to yield or without having been compressed.
  45. At-the-money At-the-money is another way of saying at the current price. Options whose exercise price is the same or almost the same as the current market price of the…
  46. AT/RT An aggressive cancer of the central nervous system, kidney, or liver that occurs in very young children.
  47. AT7519M A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer. AT7519M blocks enzymes needed for cells to divide.
  48. AT9283 A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer. It blocks enzymes (Aurora kinases) involved in cell division and may kill cancer cells.
  49. ATA (1) Advanced Test Accelerator. (2) Avionics Test Article.
  50. ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) The standard low-cost device interface for desktop and laptop PCs.
  51. ATACC (1) Advanced Tactical Command Central (USMC term). (2) Advanced Theater Air Command Center
  52. ATACM Army Tactical Missile
  53. ATACMS Army Tactical Missile System.
  54. ATAF Allied Tactical Air Force (NATO).
  55. atamestane A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. Atamestane blocks the production of the hormone estrogen in the body.
  56. ataxia Loss of muscle coordination.
  57. ataxia-telangiectasia A rare, inherited, progressive, degenerative disease of childhood that causes loss of muscle control, a weakened immune system, and an increased risk of…
  58. ataxic gait (ah-TAK-sik) Awkward, uncoordinated walking.
  59. ATB (1) Allied Test Bed. (2) Analytical Tool Box.
  60. ATBM (1) Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile. (2) Anti- Theater Ballistic Missile 24
  61. ATC Air Traffic Control
  62. ATCCS Army Tactical Command and Control System
  63. ATCOM Army Aviation and Troop Command (pre-Oct 96) (See AMCOM)
  64. ATD Advanced Technology Demonstration.
  65. ATDL Army Tactical Data Link.
  66. ATDM Adaptive Time Division Multiplexer.
  67. ATDS Airborne Tactical Data System.
  68. ATDTDCS Automated Tone Dial Telephone Data Collection System - Data collection system where cooperative observers collect precipitation, stage, and temperature…
  69. ATE Automatic Test Equipment.
  70. atelectasis (at-uh-LEK-tuh-sis) Failure of the lung to expand (inflate) completely. This may be caused by a blocked airway, a tumor, general anesthesia, pneumonia or…
  71. ATF Austin Field Office (Austin, TX).
  72. ATH Above the Horizon
  73. Atherosclerosis A chronic disease in which excessive amounts of fat and cholesterol remaining in the bloodstream collect on the inside walls of arteries, forming plaque…
  74. ATHS Airborne Target Handover System.
  75. athymic nude mouse A type of laboratory mouse that is hairless, lacks a normal thymus gland, and has a defective immune system because of a genetic mutation.
  76. ATI Advanced Technology Interceptor
  77. ATIM Advanced Technology Insertion Module
  78. atiprimod (uh-TIH-prih-mod) A substance being studied in the treatment of certain multiple myelomas and other advanced cancers.
  79. ATIS Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions
  80. ATL (Automated Tape Library) an alternative term for Automated Cartridge System. See ACS.
  81. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Is defined to include the main channel, all alternative channels, and all adjoining bays and sounds, regardless of depth. See Treas. Regs. 48.4042-1(g)(6).
  82. Atlatl A wood or bone shaft implement, held in one hand, and used to throw a spear. The tool functions as a lever, giving greater thrust and distance.
  83. ATLL An aggressive (fast-growing) type of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma caused by the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1).
  84. ATM Anti-Tactical Missile.
  85. ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) connection A virtual channel connection (VCC) or a virtual path connection (VPC). [T1.627-1993]
  86. ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) layer connection An association established by the ATM Layer to support communication between two or more ATM service users (i.e.
  87. ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) transport system A transport system composed of a carrier system terminated by an ATM multiplexer at each end. The relationship between input and output, i.e.
  88. ATM Card Card used primarily for withdrawing funds, depositing funds or making a balance inquiry at an automated teller machine (ATM).
  89. ATM link (asynchronous transfer mode link) A virtual path link (VPL) or a virtual channel link (VCL). [T1.627-1993]
  90. ATM surcharge The fee that the institution charges to non-account holders for use of its automated teller machines (ATMs).
  91. ATM switch (asynchronous transfer mode switch) With reference to both analog and digital interfaces, the ATM functional unit and technology that operates with analog 2-wire interfaces and standard…
  92. ATMD Army Theater Missile Defense.
  93. ATMDF Air and Theater Missile Defense Force (US Army term).
  94. ATMDPO Army Theater Missile Defense Program Office.
  95. Atmosphere The gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth, which consists almost entirely of nitrogen (78.1% volume mixing ratio) and oxygen (20.
  96. Atmospheric absorption Attenuation of sound during its passage through air, during which its sound energy is gradually converted into heat by a number of molecular processes in…
  97. Atmospheric Boundary Layer Same as Boundary Layer - in general, a layer of air adjacent to a bounding surface.
  98. Atmospheric circulation Atmospheric circulation System of atmospheric motions over the Earth on the scale of the whole globe (general atmospheric circulation), or over a certain…
  99. Atmospheric Circulation Model A mathematical model for quantitatively describing, simulating, and analyzing the structure of the circulation in the atmosphere and the underlying causes.
  100. atmospheric duct A horizontal layer in the lower atmosphere in which the vertical refractive index gradients are such that radio signals (a) are guided or focused within…