| ABC soil |
a soil made up of three distinct layers, the A or top layer being humus and organic matter, the B layer being clay and oxidized material, and the C layer being loose rock and mineral materials. |
| abiogenesis |
the production of living organisms from nonliving matter; spontaneous generation. |
| actually |
as a matter of fact; really. [1/2 definitions] |
| affair |
an occurrence, event, matter, or happening. [2/6 definitions] |
| ammonification |
the formation of ammonia by bacterial action on nitrogenous organic matter, as in soil. [1/2 definitions] |
| animalize |
to make (someone or something) be or resemble an animal or brute or animal matter. |
| antimatter |
in physics, matter having particles comparable to those of common matter, but with opposite electrical charges or magnetic characteristics. |
| anus |
in anatomy, the opening at the lower or rear end of the intestines, through which solid waste matter is excreted. |
| any |
one or some of a certain thing, no matter which, how much, or how many. [1/7 definitions] |
| arbor vitae |
the treelike structure of the white matter in the cerebellum when viewed in longitudinal cross section. |
| atom |
an invisible component of any element, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons, once considered the smallest possible unit of matter. [1/2 definitions] |
| atomic theory |
a former theory that all material objects and substances are composed of irreducible units of matter. [1/2 definitions] |
| atomism |
a theory that all matter is composed of small, indivisible particles called atoms, which in modern form is called atomic theory. [1/2 definitions] |
| audience |
those reached by means of television, radio, or printed matter. [1/3 definitions] |
| Band-Aid |
(l.c.) a makeshift remedy for a serious problem or matter. [1/3 definitions] |
| beat |
one's regular professional territory or subject matter. [1/15 definitions] |
| beat about the bush |
to intentionally avoid the central matter or point. |
| beat around the bush |
to intentionally avoid the central matter or point. |
| bespatter |
to splash and soil with drops or bits of matter; spatter. [1/2 definitions] |
| biogas |
any gaseous fuel produced by the bacterial decomposition of organic matter, composed primarily of methane and carbon dioxide. |
| biomass |
the quantity of living matter in a particular habitat measured by weight of organisms per unit of habitat area or by weight or volume of organisms per unit of habitat volume. |