ExpertGlossary terms starting with P

3,647 terms

  1. Phreatic water Water within the earth that supplies wells and springs; water in the zone of saturation where all openings in rocks and soil are filled, the upper surface…
  2. Phreatic Zone The locus of points below the water table where soil pores are filled with water. This is also called the zone of saturation.
  3. Phreatophyte Water-loving plant. Vegetation that consumes much water.
  4. Phreatophytes Any plant, typically living in the desert, that obtains its water from long taproots that reach the water table.
  5. PHS&T Packaging, Handling, Storage, and Transportation.
  6. phyllodes tumor (fih-LOH-deez TOO-mer) A type of tumor found in breast or prostate tissue. It is often large and bulky and grows quickly.
  7. phylogeny The deduced evolutionary history of related organisms.
  8. physiatrist (fih-ZY-uh-trist) A doctor who specializes in physical medicine (the prevention and treatment of disease or injury with physical methods, such as exercise…
  9. Physical Agents Descriptive term that includes non-ionizing EMR, static electric and magnetic fields, ionization radiation, energy beams, noise, explosions, de-orbiting…
  10. Physical basis Describes a physical natural gas purchase for the following month where the price is tied to the closing price of the expiring Nymex futures contract.
  11. physical computer A hardware-based computer, as opposed to a software-based virtual machine.
  12. Physical Configuration Audit (PCA) Physical examination to verify that the configuration item(s) as built conforms to the technical documentation that defines the item.
  13. Physical CPU A processor within a physical machine. See also Virtual CPU.
  14. Physical custody a form of child custody that grants one parent the right to live with the child.
  15. physical data replication An on-line data replication method that duplicates I/O writes to another disk on a physical block basis.
  16. Physical Ddisc An actual piece of computer media, such as the hard disc or drive, floppy discs, CDROM discs, Zip discs, etc.
  17. Physical Dependence (FIH-zih-kul dee-PEN-dents) A condition in which a person takes a drug over time, and unpleasant physical symptoms occur if the drug is suddenly stopped…
  18. physical disk A hard disk drive in a virtual machine that is mapped to a physical drive or partition on the host machine.
  19. Physical evidence During discovery, the defendant is entitled to inspect and copy certain physical evidence in the possession of the government.
  20. physical examination An exam of the body to check for general signs of disease.
  21. physical file name The address or the location of a copy of a file on a storage system.
  22. Physical File Space When a file is created on a computer, a sufficient number of clusters (physical file space) are assigned to contain the file.
  23. physical frame See frame.
  24. physical inventory process of identifying all tangible records of an organization See also records inventory.
  25. Physical Layer See Open Systems Interconnection--Reference Model. 2. The layer (layer 1) that provides transparent transmission of a bit stream over a circuit built from…
  26. Physical map A map showing physical locations on a DNA molecule, such as restriction sites, and sequence-tagged sites. (See Mapping.)
  27. physical medicine specialist (FIH-zih-kul MEH-dih-sin SPEH-shuh-list) A doctor who specializes in physical medicine (the prevention and treatment of disease or injury with physical…
  28. physical name A unique label AWS CloudFormation assigns to each resource when creating a stack.
  29. physical optics The branch of optics that treats light propagation as a wave phenomenon rather than a ray phenomenon, as in geometric optics.
  30. physical plane The plane in the intelligent network conceptual model containing elements and their interfaces that implement functional entities. [T1.667-1999]
  31. Physical Presence The place where a person is actually, physically located.
  32. physical security 1. The measures used to provide physical protection of resources against deliberate and accidental threats [7498-2]. 2. See communications security.
  33. physical signaling sublayer (PLS) In a local area network (LAN) or a metropolitan area network (MAN) using open systems interconnection (OSI) architecture, the portion of the physical…
  34. physical therapist A health professional who teaches exercises and physical activities that help condition muscles and restore strength and movement.
  35. physical therapy (FIH-zih-kul THAYR-uh-pee) The use of exercises and physical activities to help condition muscles and restore strength and movement.
  36. physical topology The physical configuration, i.e., interconnection, of network elements, e.g., cable paths, switches, concentrators.
  37. Physical Vapor Deposition A method of depositing thin semiconductor photovoltaic) films. With this method, physical processes, such as thermal evaporation or bombardment of ions…
  38. Physically Isolated Network A network that is not connected to entities or systems outside a physically controlled space.
  39. physician Medical doctor.
  40. Physician Data Query Physician Data Query is an online database developed and maintained by the National Cancer Institute.
  41. Physician Services Health care services a licensed medical physician (M.D. – Medical Doctor or D.O. – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) provides or coordinates.
  42. Physiography The physical geography of an area or the description of its physical features.
  43. physiologic (FIH-zee-uh-LAH-jik) Having to do with the functions of the body. When used in the phrase "physiologic age," it refers to an age assigned by general…
  44. phytic acid (FY-tik A-sid) A substance found in many foods that come from plants, including corn, wheat, rice, and soybeans, and in large amounts in cereals and…
  45. phyto- (Prefix) To do with plants.
  46. phytochemical (FY-toh-KEH-mih-kuhl) A substance found in plants. Some phytochemicals may reduce the risk of cancer.
  47. phytochrome A pigment, found in the cytoplasm of green plants, which can exist in two forms Pr (biologically inactive) and Pfr (biologically active).
  48. phytoestrogen An estrogen-like substance found in some plants and plant products. Phytoestrogens may have anticancer effects.
  49. phytohemagglutinin (FY-toh-HEE-muh-GLOO-tih-nin) A substance found in plants that causes red blood cells to clump together and certain white blood cells to divide.
  50. phytohormone A substance that stimulates growth or other processes in plants. Major species are auxin s, abscisic acid, cytokinin s, gibberellin s and ethylene.
  51. phytokinin See: cytokinin.
  52. phytol (FY-tol) A chemical substance that comes from plants and is used to make vitamins E and K.
  53. phytoparasite Parasite on plants.
  54. phytoparasitic (adj.) See: phytoparasite.
  55. phytopathogen A plant pathogen.
  56. Phytophagous Plant eating.
  57. Phytoplankton Small, often single-celled plants that live suspended in bodies of water.
  58. phytoremediation The use of plants actively to remove contaminants or pollutants from either soils (e.g. polluted fields) or water resources (e.g. polluted lakes).
  59. phytosanitary Plant health, including quarantine.
  60. phytostat Apparatus designed for the semi-continuous chemostatic culture of plant cells.
  61. phytosterol A plant-based compound that can compete with dietary cholesterol to be absorbed by the intestines, resulting in lower blood cholesterol levels.
  62. PI Program Integrator.
  63. PI-88 A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called antiangiogenesis agents.
  64. PI3 Kinase A type of enzyme that transmits signals in cells and that helps control cell growth. Some tumors have higher-than-normal levels of PI3 Kinase.
  65. PI3K A type of enzyme that transmits signals in cells and that helps control cell growth. Some tumors have higher-than-normal levels of PI3K.
  66. PIA Personnel Identification/Authorization System (USA term).
  67. PIBAL Pilot balloon. A small helium-filled meteorological balloon that is tracked as it rises through the atmosphere to determine how wind speed and direction…
  68. PIC (1) PLRS Interface Controller (US Army term). (2) Policy Integration Committee. (3) Program Information Center (Computer programmer term).
  69. PICA One sixth (1/6) of an inch. Used to measure graphics/fonts. There are 12 points per pica; 6 picas per inch; 72 points per inch.
  70. pick list A list containing specific records that are to be retrieved
  71. pick-up The act of a bass or other fish taking a slowly-fished lure, such as a plastic worm, crayfish or lizard. It can also be referred to as a "pressure" bite.
  72. Pickup directory A directory that receives RFC-822 compliant files from the file system for the purpose of creating message objects that can be passed to the Submission…
  73. Pico A prefix meaning "one trillionth".
  74. picowatt See yypW.
  75. picowatt, psophometrically weighted See noise weighting.
  76. Pictograph A design drawn in pigment upon an unprepared or ground rock surface.
  77. Pictometry Shows high resolution images taken at oblique angles of about 45 degrees from the four compass points and from directly above.
  78. picture Synonym image.
  79. picture black In TV and facsimile, pertaining to the signal or signal level that corresponds to the darkest part, i.e.
  80. Picture Element The smallest addressable unit on a display screen. The higher the resolution (the more rows of columns), the more information can be displayed.
  81. Picture Element (PIXEL) The smallest element of a display space that can be independently assigned color and intensity; the finest detail that can be effectively reproduced on a…
  82. picture frequency In analog facsimile systems, a baseband frequency generated by scanning an object.
  83. picture white In TV and facsimile, pertaining to the signal level that corresponds to the brightest part, i.e.
  84. PIDS Prime Item Development Specification.
  85. piecewise linear encoding See segmented encoding law.
  86. piecewise linear encoding law Synonym segmented encoding law.
  87. Pier 1. A column designed to support concentrated load. 2. A member, usually in the form of a thickened section, which forms an integral part of a wall…
  88. Piezometer A nonpumping well, generally of small diameter, for measuring the elevation of a water table.
  89. Piezometric Level (or Surface) Confined groundwater is usually under pressure because of the weight of the overburden and the hydrostatic head.
  90. Piezometric surface The surface at which water will stand in a series of piezometers.
  91. Pig An air manifold having a number of pipes which distribute compressed air coming through a single large line.
  92. Piggyback A broker who piggybacks acts illegally by buying or selling a security for his or her own account after - and presumably because - a client has authorized…
  93. piggyback entry Unauthorized access to a data processing system via an authorized user's legitimate connection. [2382-pt.8]
  94. Piggyback loan A combination of the construction loan with the permanent loan commitment. Also, one mortgage held by more than one lender, with one lender having…
  95. pigment A substance that gives color to tissue. Pigments are responsible for the color of skin, eyes, and hair.
  96. pigtail A short length of optical fiber that is permanently affixed to an active device, e.g.
  97. pike A common reference to northern pike, a member of the pike family.
  98. Pike Pole A long pole, with a hook on one end, used for pulling in a line or object that is out or reach. Sometimes marked and used for measuring water depth.
  99. Pilaster An engaged pier or pillar, often with capital and base.
  100. Pile Relatively slender structural element which is driven, or otherwise introduced, into the soil, usually for the purpose of providing vertical or lateral…