n. [ L. ceratum, ceratm, fr. cera wax. ] (Med.) An unctuous preparation for external application, of a consistence intermediate between that of an ointment and a plaster, so that it can be spread upon cloth without the use of heat, but does not melt when applied to the skin. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Cerate consists essentially of wax (for which resin or spermaceti is sometimes substituted) mixed with oil, lard, and various medicinal ingredients. The cerate (formerly called simple cerate) of the United States Pharmacopoeia is a mixture of three parts of white wax and seven parts of lard. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. [ L. ceratus, p. p. of cerare to wax, fr. cera wax. ] Covered with wax. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; the fallacy called “the horns.” fr. ke`ras a horn. ] (Lagic.) Sophistical. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. ke`ras, ke`ratos, horn + &unr_;, n. pl., gills. ] (Zool.) A group of nudibranchiate Mollusca having on the back papilliform or branched organs serving as gills. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Pertaining to the bone, or cartilage, below the epibranchial in a branchial arch. -- n. A ceratobranchial bone, or cartilage. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. ke`ras, ke`ratos horn + &unr_; tooth. ] (Zool.) A genus of ganoid fishes, of the order Dipnoi, first known as Mesozoic fossil fishes; but recently two living species have been discovered in Australian rivers. They have lungs so well developed that they can leave the water and breathe in air. In Australia they are called salmon and baramunda. See Dipnoi, and Archipterygium. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. ke`ras horn + the letter Υ. ] (Anat.) Pertaining to the bone, or cartilage, below the epihyal in the hyoid arch. -- n. A ceratohyal bone, or cartilage, which, in man, forms one of the small horns of the hyoid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a natural family coextensive with the genus Ceratophyllum; the hornworts.
Syn. -- family Ceratophyllaceae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the sole genus constituting the family Ceratophyllaceae; the hornworts.
Syn. -- genus Ceratophyllum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the type genus of the Ceratopogonidae.
Syn. -- genus Ceratopogon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]