multipoint control unit (MCU)A multiport device, by means of which two or more audiovisual terminals may intercommunicate in a conference call.
multipoint distribution service: (MDS) 1.A one-way domestic public radio service rendered on microwave frequencies from a fixed station transmitting (usually in an omnidirectional pattern) to…
multipoint grounding systemEquipment bonded together and also bonded to the facility grounding system at the point nearest the equipment.
multipoint linkA data communications link that interconnects three or more terminals.
multiport repeaterIn digital networking, an active device, having multiple input/output (I/O) ports, in which a signal introduced at the input of any port appears at the…
MultipotentAs applied to stem cells, the ability to differentiate into at least two, more differentiated descendant cells.
Multipotent stem cellsStem cells whose progeny are of multiple differentiated cell types, but all within a particular tissue, organ, or physiological system.
multiprocessingSimultaneous processing by two or more processors acting in concert. 2. The simultaneous execution of two or more computer programs or sequences of…
multiprocessorA computer that has two or more processors that have common access to a main storage.
multiprogrammingA mode of operation that provides for the interleaved execution of two or more computer programs by a single processor.
multiprogramming systemAn operating system that is able to run multiple programs concurrently.
multipulse test signalA test signal consisting of a white flag, a 2T pulse, and modulated pulses. The modulating frequencies of the pulses correspond to the frequency packets…
Multipurpose damA dam constructed for two or more purposes (e.g. storage, flood control, navigation, power generation, recreation, or fish and wildlife enhancement.)
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME)An extensible mechanism for email. A variety of MIME types exist for sending content such as audio using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) protocol.
Multipurpose projectA project designed for irrigation, power, flood control, municipal and industrial, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits, in any combinations of two…
Multipurpose ReservoirA reservoir constructed and equipped to provide storage and release of water for two or more purposes such as flood control, power development…
Multiservice T&ET&E conducted by two or more DoD Components for systems to be acquired by more than one DoD Component, or for a DoD Component's systems that have…
Multispectral scanner (MSS)An instrument on some satellites used for imaging the earth. An MSS image will have data recorded by the scanner from three or more bands of the…
Multistatic RadarA radar system with a transmitter and several receivers, all separated. A special case is bistatic radar.
MultisynchAnalog video monitors which can receive a wide range of display resolutions, usually including TV (NTSC).
multitaskingThe concurrent performance or interleaved execution of two or more tasks. Synonym concurrent operation.
multithreadedDescribes a program that is designed to have parts of its code execute concurrently. See also thread.
multithreadingthe ability of an operating system or program to spawn multiple simultaneous execution paths (in addition to its main thread of execution) to more…
MultitoolA Cascading application that provides a simple command-line interface for managing large datasets.
multivalent vaccineA vaccine designed to elicit an immune response either to more than one infectious agent or to several different antigenic determinants of a single agent.
MULTSMobile Universal Link Translator System (NATO term).
mung beanA type of bean grown in warm climates, usually for its seed and for bean sprouts. Mung bean may have anticancer effects.
Municipal bond (muni)Municipal bonds are debt securities issued by state or local governments or their agencies to finance general governmental activities or special projects.
Municipal bond fundMunicipal bond mutual funds invest in municipal bonds. Earnings from these funds are always free of federal income tax for all shareholders in the fund.
municipal solid wasteAny organic matter, including sewage, industrial, and commercial wastes, from municipal waste collection systems.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)Waste material from households and businesses in a community that is not regulated as hazardous.
Municipal Use of WaterThe various uses of water in developed urban areas, including domestic use, industrial use, street sprinkling, fire protection, etc.
Municipal WasteAs defined in the Energy Security Act (P.L. 96-294; 1980) as "any organic matter, including sewage, sewage sludge, and industrial or commercial waste, and…
MunicipalizationThe process by which a municipal entity assumes responsibility for supplying utility service to its constituents.
munimentsan old-fashioned term for documents that confer authorities, rights, or privileges, and they are used as evidence by which those authorities, rights, or…
MuntinA tertiary framing member that subdivides the sash into individual panes, lights or panels.
MuonThe second heaviest charged lepton (with electron and tau), with electric charge -1.
muromonab-CD3A type of monoclonal antibody used in cancer detection or therapy. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced substances that can locate and bind to…
muscle wasting(MUH-sul WAY-sting) A weakening, shrinking, and loss of muscle caused by disease or lack of use. Muscle wasting decreases strength and the ability to move.
musculoskeletal(MUS-kyoo-loh-SKEH-leh-tul) Having to do with muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage.
MushroomSlang for a thunderstorm with a well-defined anvil rollover, and thus having a visual appearance resembling a mushroom.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)An electronic standard for encoding and transmitting digitized musical information between musical instruments and computers. [Bahorsky]
Must-carry (Retransmission)A 1992 Cable Act term requiring a cable system to carry signals of both commercial and noncommercial television broadcast stations that are "local" to the…
Mustargen(MUS-tur-jen) A drug used to treat some types of cancer and some precancerous skin conditions.
mustine(mus-TEEN) A drug used to treat some types of cancer and some precancerous skin conditions.
mutable geneA gene which has an unusually high rate of mutation.
Mutagen(MYOO-tuh-jen) Anything that causes a mutation (a change in the DNA of a cell).
mutagenesisInduction of heritable change(s) in the genetic constitution of a cell through alterations to its DNA.
MutagenicityThe capacity of a chemical or physical agent to cause permanent genetic alterations. See also: somatic cell genetic mutation
mutantAn organism or an allele bearing a mutation. Usually applied when a characteristic change in phenotype can be recognized.
mutateTo change the genetic material of a cell. The changes (mutations) can be harmful, beneficial, or have no effect.
Mutation(myoo-TAY-shun) Any change in the DNA of a cell. Mutations may be caused by mistakes during cell division, or they may be caused by exposure to…
Mutation breedingCommonly used practices in plant breeding and other areas in which chemicals or radiation are applied to whole organisms, for example plants, or cells so…
mutation pressureA constant mutation rate that adds mutant genes to a population; repeated occurrences of mutations in a population.
mutator methodA method specifically designed to allow controlled modification of a private attribute of a class.
Mutual AuthenticationAn authentication mechanism employed by two parties for the purpose of proving each other's identity to one another.
Mutual companyA mutual company is a privately held company owned by its policyholders, depositors, or other customers.
Mutual FundA fund operated by an investment company that raises money from shareholders and invests it in stocks, bonds, options, commodities, or money market…
Mutual FundsA fund that pools the money of its investors to buy a variety of securities.
Mutual Life Insurance CompanyA life insurance company owned by policyholders who share in the company's surplus earnings.
mutual recovery configurationA continental cluster configuration in which each cluster serves the roles of primary and recovery cluster for different recovery groups.
mutual recursionRecursion that results from two methods calling each other recursively.
Mutual savings bankAn institution owned by its depositors and operated for their benefit. Most of these banks are in the northeastern United States and hold a large portion…
mutual suspicionThe relationship between interacting entities in which neither entity relies upon the other entity to function correctly or securely with respect to some…
mutual synchronizationSynchronization in which the frequency of the clock at a particular node is controlled by a weighted average of the timing on all signals received from…
mutually synchronized networkA network that has a synchronizing arrangement in which each clock in the network exerts a degree of control on all others.