0%

19-letter words containing s, i, t, e

  • functional database — (database, language)   A database which uses a functional language as its query language. Databases would seem to be an inappropriate application for functional languages since, a purely functional language would have to return a new copy of the entire database every time (part of) it was updated. To be practically scalable, the update mechanism must clearly be destructive rather than functional; however it is quite feasible for the query language to be purely functional so long as the database is considered as an argument. One approach to the update problem would use a monad to encapsulate database access and ensure it was single threaded. Alternative approaches have been suggested by Trinder, who suggests non-destructive updating with shared data structures, and Sutton who uses a variant of a Phil Wadler's linear type system. There are two main classes of functional database languages. The first is based upon Backus' FP language, of which FQL is probably the best known example. Adaplan is a more recent language which falls into this category. More recently, people have been working on languages which are syntactically very similar to modern functional programming languages, but which also provide all of the features of a database language, e.g. bulk data structures which can be incrementally updated, type systems which can be incrementally updated, and all data persisting in a database. Examples are PFL [Poulovassilis&Small, VLDB-91], and Machiavelli [Ohori et al, ACM SIGMOD Conference, 1998].
  • future date testing — (testing)   The process of setting a computer's date to a future date to test a program's (expected or unexpected) date sensitivity. Future date testing only shows the effects of dates on the computer(s) under scrutiny, it does not take into account knock-on effects of dates on other connected systems.
  • gas central heating — a system of central heating fuelled by combustible gas
  • gastrocolic omentum — the peritoneal fold attached to the stomach and the colon and hanging over the small intestine.
  • gastroenterocolitis — (medicine) inflammation of the stomach, small intestines, and colon.
  • gastroenterological — Of or pertaining to gastroenterology.
  • gel electrophoresis — a technique for separating protein molecules of varying sizes in a mixture by moving them through a block of gel, as of agarose or polyacrylamide, by means of an electric field, with smaller molecules moving faster and therefore farther than larger ones.
  • gender reassignment — the alteration, by surgery and hormone treatments, of a person's physical sex characteristics to approximate those of the opposite sex: Born male, she now lives as a woman but has no plans for a sex change.
  • general anaesthesia — the use of a general anaesthetic
  • general anaesthetic — sth administered to induce unconsciousness
  • general linguistics — the study of the characteristics of language in general rather than of a particular language; theoretical, rather than applied, linguistics.
  • general partnership — a partnership in which each of the partners is fully liable for the firm's debts.
  • general post office — (in the U.S. postal system) the main post office of a city, county, etc., that also has branch post offices. Abbreviation: G.P.O., GPO.
  • genetic counselling — the provision of advice for couples with a history of inherited disorders who wish to have children, including the likelihood of having affected children and the course and management of the disorder, etc
  • gentleman-pensioner — (formerly) a gentleman-at-arms.
  • geometric isomerism — each of two or more chemical compounds having the same molecular formula but a different geometric arrangement; an unsaturated compound or ring compound in which rotation around a carbon bond is restricted, as in cis- and trans- configurations.
  • gestational carrier — surrogate mother (def 3).
  • gigabits per second — (unit)   (Gbps) A unit of information transfer rate equal to one billion bits per second. Note that, while a gigabit is defined as a power of two (2^30 bits), a gigabit per second is defined as a power of ten (10^9 bits per second, which is slightly less) than 2^30).
  • give a person a fit — to surprise a person in an outrageous manner
  • give one's eyeteeth — Dentistry. a canine tooth of the upper jaw: so named from its position under the eye.
  • give sb the willies — If someone or something gives you the willies, they make you feel nervous or frightened.
  • glorious revolution — the events of 1688–89 in England that resulted in the ousting of James II and the establishment of William III and Mary II as joint monarchs
  • glottalic airstream — a current of air in the pharynx produced by the action of the glottis.
  • go on the offensive — If you go on the offensive, go over to the offensive, or take the offensive, you begin to take strong action against people who have been attacking you.
  • goes without saying — If something goes without saying, it is obvious.
  • goods received note — a document created by a buyer on receipt of merchandise and which describes each good and details the quantity of each received
  • grandfather's chair — wing chair.
  • great indian desert — a desert in NW India and S Pakistan. About 77,000 sq. mi. (200,000 sq. km).
  • green mountain boys — the members of the armed bands of Vermont organized in 1770 to oppose New York's territorial claims. Under Ethan Allen they won fame in the War of American Independence
  • greenhouse whitefly — See under whitefly.
  • greenstick fracture — an incomplete fracture of a long bone, in which one side is broken and the other side is still intact.
  • gregorian telescope — a telescope similar in design to the Cassegrainian telescope but less widely used.
  • grosse pointe farms — a city in SE Michigan, near Detroit.
  • grosse pointe woods — a city in SE Michigan, near Detroit.
  • hang on the lips of — to listen to with close attention
  • haute vulgarisation — vulgarization, or popularization, on a higher level, esp. as done by academics, scholars, etc.
  • have designs on sth — If someone has designs on something, they want it and are planning to get it, often in a dishonest way.
  • have one's way with — manner, mode, or fashion: a new way of looking at a matter; to reply in a polite way.
  • have sth against sb — If you have something against someone or something, you dislike them.
  • have the makings of — show potential as
  • health professional — a person trained to work in any field of physical or mental health.
  • heat of sublimation — the heat absorbed by one gram or unit mass of a substance in the process of changing, at a constant temperature and pressure, from a solid to a gaseous state. Compare sublime (def 10).
  • hermes trismegistus — a name variously ascribed by Neoplatonists and others to an Egyptian priest or to the Egyptian god Thoth, to some extent identified with the Grecian Hermes: various mystical, religious, philosophical, astrological, and alchemical writings were ascribed to him.
  • hermetically sealed — airtight
  • herpes zoster virus — a type of herpesvirus that causes chickenpox and shingles.
  • hester lynch piozzi — Hester Lynch (Hester Lynch Piozzi) 1741–1821, Welsh writer and friend of Samuel Johnson.
  • high-pressure steam — High-pressure steam is steam which is at or above 75 pounds per square inch gauge pressure.
  • highways department — the department of a state, council, etc, responsible for the upkeep of roads and highways
  • historic episcopate — the derivation of the episcopate of a Church in historic succession from the apostles
  • holy innocents' day — December 28, a day of religious observance commemorating the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem by Herod's order.
Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?