Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Vlaminck, Maurice de mōrēsˈ də vlämăNkˈ [key], 1876–1958, French painter, writer, and printmaker. At first an avid racing cyclist, he supported himself (c.1900) as a musician and taught himse...

(Encyclopedia) Rameau, Jean Philippe zhäN fēlēpˈ rämōˈ [key], 1683–1764, French composer and theorist. He was organist at the cathedral in Clermont and at Notre Dame de Dijon. In the early part of his caree...

(Encyclopedia) rectifier, component of an electric circuit used to change alternating current to direct current. Rectifiers are made in various forms, all operating on the principle that current passes through them ...

(Encyclopedia) sperm or spermatozoon spûrˌmətəzōˈən, –zōˈŏn [key], in biology, the male gamete (sex cell), corresponding to the female ovum in organisms that reproduce sexually. In higher animals the spe...

(Encyclopedia)  CE5 French horn French horn, brass wind musical instrument. Fundamentally a metal tube of narrow conical bore, it is curved into circles because of its great length. The horn ends in a wide flare....

(Encyclopedia) Langmuir, Irving lăngˈmyo͞or [key], 1881–1957, American chemist, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. Associated (1909–50) with the research laboratory of the General Electric Company, he introduced atomic-hydrog...

(Encyclopedia) surfing, sport of gliding on a breaking wave. Surfers originally used long, cumbersome wooden boards but now ride lightweight synthetic boards that allow a greater degree of maneuverability. Boards ar...

(Encyclopedia) speedometer, instrument that indicates speed. A cable from an automotive speedometer is attached to the rear of the transmission of an automobile; the cable turns at a rate proportional to the speed o...

(Encyclopedia)  CE5 A. Ribbon worm, representative of the phylum Nemertinea B. Internal anatomy of a ribbon worm Nemertinea nĕmərtĭnˈēə [key], phylum of elongated, often flattened, marine Worms, sometimes c...

(Encyclopedia) pipe, hollow structure, usually cylindrical, for conducting materials. It is used primarily to convey liquids, gases, or solids suspended in a liquid, e.g., a slurry. It is also used as a conduit for ...