ExpertGlossary terms starting with P

3,647 terms

percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (per-kyoo-TAY-nee-us TRANZ-heh-PA-tik koh-lan-jee-AH-gruh-fee) A procedure to x-ray the hepatic and common bile ducts.
Peregrine An Air Force boost-phase interceptor concept under development at USAF/SMC.
Peremptory challenge Request by a party that a judge not allow a certain prospective juror as a member of the jury. No reason or cause need be stated. See challenge for cause.
perennial A plant that flowers continuously for several years.
Perennial allotment A BLM grazing allotment that consistently produces enough perennial forage to support a year round livestock operation.
Perennial Stream A stream that flows continually throughout the year.
Perennial streams Streams that flow continuously because they lie at or below the groundwater table, which constantly replenishes them.
Perennial surface water features Surface water features that contain water at all times throughout the year.
Perennial yield Maximum quantity of water that can be annually withdrawn from a ground water basin over a long period of time (during which water supply condditions…
Perennial yield (groundwater) The amount of groundwater that can be withdrawn from a groundwater basin over a period of time without exceeding the long-term recharge of the basin or…
Perennial/safe/sustainable yield A specified rate of groundwater pumping that can be sustained for an indefinite period of time without impairing hydrogeologic and ecologic processes…
perfect forward secrecy In cryptography, of a key-establishment protocol, the condition in which the compromise of a session key or long-term private key after a given session…
Perfect Pairs Is a blackjack side bet played on a standard blackjack table and does not require the main game rules to be changed.
Perfluorocarbon (PFC) Compounds consisting of carbon and fluorine. They do not deplete the stratospheric ozone but are very strong greenhouse gases with long lifetimes in the…
Perfluorocarbon Tracer Gas Technique (PFT) An air infiltration measurement technique developed by the Brookhaven National Laboratory to measure changes over time (one week to five months) when…
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) A group of human-made chemicals composed of carbon and fluorine only. These chemicals (predominantly CF4 and C2F6) were introduced as alternatives, along…
Perforated pipe Pipe designed to discharge water through small, multiple, closely spaced orifices or nozzles, placed in a segment of its circumference for irrigation…
Performance Those operational and support characteristics of the system that allow it to effectively and efficiently perform its assigned mission over time.
performance anomalies A discrepancy between actual and desired characteristics of an item. An anomaly may or may not affect the ability of an item to perform a required…
Performance Audits the review of laboratory administration, management, sections and/or analysts for compliance with policies, procedures, and operational effectiveness…
performance evaluation The technical assessment of a system or system component to determine how effectively operating objectives have been achieved [POSIX.0].
Performance Logs and Alerts A Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) API that enables application programmers to log system performance and diagnosis data, and to generate alert…
performance management In network management, (a) a set of functions that evaluate and report the behavior of telecommunications equipment and the effectiveness of the network…
performance measurement period The period during which performance parameters are measured. Note: A performance measurement period is determined by required confidence limits and may…
performance parameter A quality, usually quantified by a numerical value, which quality characterizes a particular aspect, capability, or attribute of a system.
performance primitives Basic error events or other performance-related occurrences that may be detected by monitoring a digital signal. [T1.503-1996]
Performance Ratings Solar collector thermal performance ratings based on collector efficiencies, usually expressed in Btu per hour for solar collectors under standard test or…
performance reliability The ability of an item to perform a required function under given conditions for a given time period.
Performance Requirement A requirement that specifies a performance characteristic that a system or system or system component must possess; for example, speed, accuracy…
Performance Specification (1) A specification that sets forth the performance requirements for a system or system component. (2) Synonymous with requirements specification.
performance standard A statement of general criteria that define a desired result without specifying the techniques for achieving that result.
performance status A measure of how well a patient is able to perform ordinary tasks and carry out daily activities.
Performance Zoning Establishes minimum criteria to be used when assessing whether a particular project is appropriate for a certain area; ensures that the end result adheres…
perfusion (per-FYOO-zhun) Bathing an organ or tissue with a fluid. In regional perfusion, a specific area of the body (usually an arm or a leg) receives high doses…
perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (per-FYOO-zhun mag-NEH-tik REH-zoh-nants IH-muh-jing) A special type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that uses an injected dye in order to see blood…
periampullary cancer (PAYR-ee-AM-puh-LAYR-ee KAN-ser) A cancer that forms near the ampulla of Vater (an enlargement of the ducts from the liver and pancreas where they join…
periapsis In a satellite orbit, the point that is closest to the gravitational center of the system consisting of the primary body and the satellite.
pericardial effusion An abnormal collection of fluid inside the sac that covers the heart.
pericentric inversion A chromosomal rearrangement in which a segment of chromosome, including the centromere, is rotated.
periclinal The orientation of cell wall or plane of cell division parallel to the reference surface.
periclinal chimera 1. Genotypically or cytoplasmically different tissues arranged in concentric layers. 2.
pericycle Region of the plant bounded externally by the endodermis and internally by the phloem. Most roots originate from the pericycle.
perifosine A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called alkylphospholipids.
Perigee The closest distance between moon and earth or the earth and sun.
perigee altitude See altitude of the apogee or of the perigee.
Perihelion The point on the annual orbit of a body (about the sun) that is closest to the sun; at present, the earth reaches this point on about 5 January.
Peril A specific risk or cause of loss covered by an insurance policy, such as a fire, windstorm, flood, or theft.
perillyl alcohol A substance that is being studied in the prevention of cancer. It belongs to the family of plant drugs called monoterpenes.
Perils For homeowner's insurance, an event that can damage the property. Homeowner's insurance may cover the property for a wide variety of perils caused by…
perimenopausal (PAYR-ih-MEH-nuh-PAW-zul) The time of a woman's life when menstrual periods become irregular. Refers to the time just before menopause.
Perimeter Acquisition Radar and Attack Characterization System (PARCS) AN/FPQ-16 phased array radar at Cavalier AFS, ND, used for early warning and attack assessment.
Perimeter Heating A term applied to warm-air heating systems that deliver heated air to rooms by means of registers or baseboards located along exterior walls.
perimeter network An Internet Protocol (IP) network segment that contains resources, such as Web servers and virtual private network (VPN) servers, that are available to…
perineal colostomy (PAYR-uh-NEE-ul koh-LOS-toh-mee) An opening made surgically to allow the colon to exit the body through the perineum (the area of the body between the…
perineal prostatectomy (PAYR-uh-NEE-ul PROS-tuh-TEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the prostate through an incision made between the scrotum and the anus.
perineum The area of the body between the anus and the vulva in females, and between the anus and the scrotum in males.
perineural (pear-ih-NOOR-al) Around a nerve or group of nerves.
Period Usually designated by T. This is the time interval of one complete oscillation of any wave. See Wavelength.
Period (nodal) Time for a satellite to travel once around its orbit.
period (of a satellite) The time elapsing between two consecutive passages of a satellite through a characteristic point on its orbit. [NTIA] [RR]
Period of intended employment Period of intended employment means the time period between the starting and ending dates inclusive of the H-1B nonimmigrant's intended period of…
periodic antenna An antenna that has an approximately constant input impedance over a narrow range of frequencies.
Periodic Facility Review (PFR) A field review performed on a high- or significant-hazard dam every 6 years that entails a thorough examination from both operation and maintenance and…
Periodic interest rate The periodic interest rate, sometimes called the nominal rate, is the interest rate a lender charges on the amount you borrow.
Periodic Rate The interest rate described in relation to a specific amount of time. The monthly periodic rate, for example, is the cost of credit per month; the daily…
Periodic Statement The billing summary produced and mailed at specified intervals, usually monthly.
periodic transfer process of moving records between active, semiactive, and inactive storage sites on a scheduled basis
Periodical A publication which appears regularly but less often than daily.
periodontitis A gum disease in which the gums shrink away from the teeth. Without treatment, it can lead to tooth loss.
periods processing Processing of various levels of classified and unclassified information at distinctly different times.
perioperative (PER-ee-AH-pruh-tiv) Around the time of surgery. This usually lasts from the time the patient goes into the hospital or doctor's office for surgery until…
Peripatetic Peripatetic means constantly traveling from place to place with no regular place of business or residence.
Peripheral Artery Disease The artery passage is blocked from the heart with a build up of fat and fibrous tissue, called plaque.
peripheral blood (peh-RIH-feh-rul blud) Blood circulating throughout the body.
peripheral blood lymphocyte therapy (peh-RIH-feh-rul blud LIM-foh-site THAYR-uh-pee) A treatment for Epstein-Barr virus infection or overgrowth of white blood cells (lymphocytes) after an…
peripheral blood smear (peh-RIH-feh-rul blud smeer) A procedure in which a sample of blood is viewed under a microscope to count different circulating blood cells (red blood…
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (PBSCT) A method of separating and collecting stem cells from the circulating blood stream using a process called pheresis.
peripheral device A hardware device not part of the central computer (e.g., digitizers, plotters, and printers).
peripheral devices Devices attached to a computer, such as printers, disk drives, mice, etc.
peripheral equipment In a data processing system, any equipment, distinct from the central processing unit, that may provide the system with additional capabilities.
peripheral neuropathy (peh-RIH-feh-rul noo-ROP-uh-thee) A nerve problem that causes pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, or muscle weakness in different parts of the body.
peripheral node Synonym endpoint node.
peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (peh-RIH-feh-rul PRI-mih-tiv NOOR-oh-EK-toh-DER-mul TOO-mer) A type of cancer that forms in bone or soft tissue. Also called Ewing sarcoma and pPNET.
peripheral stem cell (peh-RIH-feh-rul stem sel) An immature cell found circulating in the bloodstream. New blood cells develop from peripheral stem cells.
peripheral stem cell support (peh-RIH-feh-rul stem sel Ã¢ÂÂ¦) A method of replacing blood-forming cells destroyed by cancer treatment.
peripheral stem cell transplantation (peh-RIH-feh-rul stem sel tranz-plan-TAY-shun) A method of replacing blood-forming cells destroyed by cancer treatment.
peripheral T-cell lymphoma (peh-RIH-feh-rul ... lim-FOH-muh) One of a group of aggressive (fast-growing) non-Hodgkin lymphomas that begins in mature T lymphocytes (T cells that have…
peripheral venous catheter (peh-RIH-feh-rul VEE-nus KA-theh-ter) A small, flexible tube used to deliver fluids into the body.
Periphyton Microscopic plants and animals that are firmly attached to solid surfaces under water such as rocks, logs, pilings and other structures.
periplasm The space between the cell (cytoplasmic) membrane of a bacterium or fungus and the outer membrane or cell wall. Synonym: periplasmic space.
periscope antenna An antenna configuration in which the transmitting antenna is oriented to produce a vertical radiation pattern, and a flat or off-axis parabolic…
peristalsis (pair-ih-STAL-sis) The rippling motion of muscles in the intestine or other tubular organs characterized by the alternate contraction and relaxation of…
peritoneal (PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul) Having to do with the parietal peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and pelvic cavity) and visceral peritoneum (the…
peritoneal cancer (PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul KAN-ser) Cancer of the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen.
peritoneal cavity (PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul KA-vuh-tee) The space within the abdomen that contains the intestines, the stomach, and the liver. It is bound by thin membranes.
peritoneal fluid (PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul FLOO-id) A liquid that is made in the abdominal cavity to lubricate the surface of the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and pelvic…
peritoneal infusion (PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul in-FYOO-zhun) A method of delivering fluids and drugs directly into the abdominal cavity through a thin tube.
peritoneal perfusion (PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul per-FYOO-zhun) A method of delivering fluids and drugs directly to tumors in the peritoneal cavity.
peritoneum (PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-um) The tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen.
peritonitis Inflammation of the peritoneum (tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen).