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phenobarbital an odorless white crystalline powder that is used as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic.
phenocopy an environmentally produced change in an organism, similar to a mutation but nonhereditary.
phenocryst a large and usu. conspicuous crystal embedded in volcanic rock containing many such crystals.
phenol a poisonous white acidic compound found in the tars of wood and coal, or derived from benzene, and used primarily as a disinfectant or antiseptic. [2 definitions]
phenolphthalein a white or pale yellow crystalline powder that is used in making dyes and as an acid-base indicator and a laxative.
phenom (slang) an outstandingly talented person, esp. in sports or music.
phenomena a pl. of phenomenon.
phenomenal amazing or extraordinary. [3 definitions]
phenomenology the philosophical study of phenomena, esp. of subjective perceptual experience, as distinguished from ontology, the study of being.
phenomenon a perceptible occurrence or fact. [3 definitions]
phenothiazine a greenish organic compound used to expel intestinal worms in domestic animals, as an insecticide, and in the synthesis of tranquilizers.
phenotype the observable traits of an individual or group, esp. as a function of genetic composition and environment. (Cf. genotype.) [2 definitions]
phenyl the monovalent radical that forms the basis of several aromatic compounds, such as benzene, phenol, and aniline.
phenylalanine an essential amino acid that is a constituent of many proteins.
phenylketonuria see "PKU."
pheromone any of a group of chemical substances produced by an animal to elicit a response or behavior from another animal of the same species.
phew a breathy exhalation used to express exhaustion, relief, disgust, or surprise.
phi the name of the twenty-first letter of the Greek alphabet.
phial a small, often cylindrical container for liquids; vial.
Phi Beta Kappa a national honor society whose members are chosen annually from among undergraduates in the arts and sciences who have achieved academic distinction. [2 definitions]
Philadelphia a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, the largest city in the state and one of the most populous in the U.S., important as a government center during the Revolutionary War and home to Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and The U.S. Constitution were signed.