ExpertGlossary terms starting with C

4,595 terms

  1. Cast Iron A type of iron, mass-produced in the nineteenth century, created by pouring molten iron into a mold; used for ornament, garden furniture, and building…
  2. Caster A character that stays on the back row to heal or cast spells on the enemy, such as a Mage.
  3. casting Explicit conversion from one data type to another.
  4. Castleman disease (KA-sel-man dih-ZEEZ) A rare disorder in which noncancerous growths develop in lymph node tissue.
  5. castration Removal or destruction of the testicles or ovaries using radiation, surgery, or drugs.
  6. Casualty Protection Property insurance that covers any damage to the home and personal property either inside or outside the home.
  7. CAT (1) Computer Aided Testing. (2) Crisis Action Team. (3) Category.
  8. CAT box See: CAAT box.
  9. Cat House A second-generation Soviet phased array radar that augments Moscows existing search and target acquisition radars (Dog House).
  10. CAT scan A series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body taken from different angles. The pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.
  11. CAT-8015 A monoclonal antibody linked to a toxic substance. It is being studied in the treatment of some types of B-cell cancer. CAT-8015 is made in the laboratory.
  12. catabolic pathway A pathway by which an organic molecule is degraded in order to release energy for growth and other cellular processes.
  13. catabolism The breakdown of large molecules in living organisms, with the accompanying release of energy.
  14. catabolite activator protein (Abbreviation: CAP). A protein which combines with cyclic AMP. The cAMP-CAP complex binds to the promoter regions of E.
  15. catabolite repression Glucose-mediated reduction in the rates of transcription of genes that encode enzymes involved in catabolic pathways (e.g. the lac operon).
  16. catalase A metalloenzyme, present in both plants and animals, that catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen.
  17. Catalina Eddy A Catalina Eddy (coastal eddy) forms when upper level large-scale flow off Point Conception interacts with the complex topography of the Southern…
  18. catalog See Index.
  19. catalysis The process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by the addition of a substance that is not itself changed by the reaction (the catalyst ).
  20. catalyst A substance that promotes a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy of a chemical reaction, but which itself remains unaltered at the end of…
  21. catalytic antibody An antibody selected for its ability to catalyse a chemical reaction by binding to and stabilizing the transition-state intermediate. Synonym: abzyme.
  22. Catalytic antibody (abzyme) An antibody selected for its ability to catalyze a chemical reaction by binding to and stabilizing the transition state intermediate.
  23. Catalytic Converter An air pollution control device that removes organic contaminants by oxidizing them into carbon dioxide and water through a chemical reaction using a…
  24. catalytic RNA See: ribozyme.
  25. Catalytic RNA (ribozyme) A natural or synthetic RNA molecule that cuts an RNA substrate.
  26. catalytic site The part of the surface of an enzyme molecule (usually only a small portion of the total) necessary for the catalytic process.
  27. cataract (KA-tuh-RAKT) A condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Symptoms include blurred, cloudy, or double vision; sensitivity to light; and…
  28. Catastrophe A sudden and great disaster causing misfortune, destruction, or irreplaceable loss extensive enough to cripple activities in an area.
  29. Catastrophe Theory A special branch of dynamical systems theory that studies and classifies phenomena characterized by sudden shifts in behavior arising from small changes…
  30. catastrophic degradation The rapid reduction of the ability of a system, subsystem, component, equipment, or software to perform its intended function.
  31. Catastrophic Health Insurance Catastrophic health insurance is a type of health insurance that typically has very high deductibles.
  32. Catastrophic Health Plan Health plans that meet all of the requirements applicable to other Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) but that don't cover any benefits other than 3 primary…
  33. Catastrophic illness insurance Many health insurance policies cap, or limit, the amount they will pay to cover medical expenses.
  34. Catastrophic Plan A catastrophic plan covers an individual or family in the event of a major medical emergency.
  35. Catch At a recreational fishery, refers to the number of fish captured, whether they are kept or released.
  36. Catch All Listing A listing used by pay per click search engines to monetize long tail terms that are not yet targeted by marketers.
  37. Catch and release Refers to catching a fish and immediately releasing it. Many anglers practice catch-and-release as a way to help conserve the resource.
  38. Catch Basin A conventional structure for the capture of stormwater utilized in streets and parking areas.
  39. catch clause The part of a try statement responsible for handling a caught exception.
  40. Catch-up contribution You are entitled to make an annual catch-up contribution to your employer sponsored retirement savings plan and individual retirement account (IRA) if…
  41. catching exceptions Exceptions are caught within the catch clause of a try statement. Catching an exception gives the program an opportunity to recover from the problem or…
  42. Catchment Area An area having a common outlet for its surface runoff (also see Drainage Area or Basin, Watershed).
  43. Catchment basin A topographic region in which all water drains to a common outlet; a watershed.
  44. catechol (ka-tuh-KOL) A chemical originally isolated from a type of mimosa tree. Catechol is used as an astringent, an antiseptic, and in photography…
  45. catecholamine (ka-tuh-KOH-luh-meen) A type of neurohormone (a chemical that is made by nerve cells and used to send signals to other cells).
  46. Categorical A National Weather Service precipitation descriptor for a 80, 90, or 100 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch).
  47. categories Groups of related content, organized hierarchically by subject matter.
  48. Categorization Categorization is the process of organizing pieces of information into topical categories.
  49. categorizer A component of Exchange transport that processes all incoming messages and determines what to do with the messages based on information about the intended…
  50. category A word, phrase, or number used to group documents in a view.
  51. Category 3 The ANSI/EIA/TIA-568 designation for 100-ohm unshielded twisted-pair cables and associated connecting hardware whose characteristics are specified for…
  52. Category 4 The ANSI/EIA/TIA-568 designation for 100-ohm unshielded twisted-pair cables and associated connecting hardware whose characteristics are specified for…
  53. Category 5 The ANSI/EIA/TIA-568 designation for 100-ohm unshielded twisted-pair cables and associated connecting hardware whose characteristics are specified for…
  54. Category folder A folder that is used by coordinators to organize categories.
  55. Category of Amount Reportable financial interests are disclosed either by actual amount or by category of amount, depending on the interest, as specified by the SF 278 form.
  56. category tree A hierarchy of categories that is displayed in the enterprise search administration console.
  57. CATEX Categorical Exclusion (enviromental term).
  58. catfish A term for any of the many species of catfish, including black, blue, flathead, channel and yellow species.
  59. Cathedral Ceiling/Roof A type of ceiling and roof assembly that has no attic.
  60. Catheter (KA-theh-ter) A flexible tube used to deliver fluids into or withdraw fluids from the body.
  61. Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) Infection involving any part of the urinary system, including urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidney that is caused by the insertion of a urinary catheter.
  62. Cathode The negative pole or electrode of an electrolytic cell, vacuum tube, etc., where electrons enter (current leaves) the system; the opposite of an anode.
  63. Cathode Disconnect Ballast An electromagnetic ballast that disconnects a lamp's electrode heating circuit once is has started; often called "low frequency electronic" ballasts.
  64. Cathodic Protection A method of preventing oxidation of the exposed metal in structures by imposing between the structure and the ground a small electrical voltage.
  65. Cation A positively charged ion.
  66. CATO (1) Combined Arms Tactical Operations (US Army). (2) OBSOLETE. Common Automated Tactical Operations.
  67. CATS Computer Aided Test System.
  68. CATT Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (US Army term).
  69. CATV Abbreviation for cable TV.
  70. caucus From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of Members of the House or the Senate, or both, that…
  71. cauliflower mosaic virus (Abbreviation CaMV). A DNA virus affecting cauliflower and many other dicot species.
  72. cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (Abbreviation CaMV 35S). A promoter sequence isolated from the ribosomal gene of the cauliflower mosaic virus
  73. Caulk The material used to seal joints.
  74. Caulking A material used to seal areas of potential air leakage into or out of a building envelope.
  75. caulogenesis Stem organogenesis; induction of shoot development from callus.
  76. Causa Una acción judicial, un juicio.
  77. Causa mortis In expectation of death.
  78. Causa prima First or original cause.
  79. Causa proxima Immediate cause.
  80. Cause A lawsuit, litigation or action. Any question, civil or criminal, litigated or contested before a court of justice.
  81. Cause of action The fact or facts which give a person a right to relief in court.
  82. Cause of death disease or injury that initiates the lethal train of events leading to death.
  83. cauterize (KAW-teh-RIZE) To destroy tissue using a hot or cold instrument, an electrical current, or a chemical that burns or dissolves the tissue.
  84. Caution Stage Same as alert stage.
  85. CAV Abbreviation for component analog video. A signal in which an analog voltage or current, rather than a set of numbers, represents the value of a pixel.
  86. Caveat Notice of opposition; caution; warning.
  87. Caveat actor Let the doer beware.
  88. Caveat emptor Let the buyer beware.
  89. Cavitation A process that occurs during the formation of the blastocyst and establishes the polarity of embryonic cells.
  90. Cavitation damage Damage caused when partial vacuums formed in a liquid by a swiftly moving solid body (e.g. a propeller) pit and wear away solid surfaces (e.g.
  91. cavity (KA-vih-tee) A hollow area or hole. It may describe a body cavity (such as the space within the abdomen) or a hole in a tooth caused by decay.
  92. CAVU Clear or Scattered Clouds (visibility greater than 10 mi.)
  93. CB Cumulonimbus cloud, characterized by strong vertical development in the form of mountains or huge towers topped at least partially by a smooth, flat…
  94. CBC A test to check the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a sample of blood.
  95. CBC/MAC SEE Cipher Block Chaining-Message Authentication Code
  96. CBD Abbreviation for Convention on Biological Diversity.
  97. CBEFF (Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework) A standard that provides the ability for a system to identify, and interface with, multiple biometric systems, and to exchange data between system…
  98. CBM Central Battle Management.
  99. CBMAM Cumulonimbus Mamma
  100. CBO Congressional Budget Office.