n. [ Names of sciences in -ics, as, acoustics, mathematics, etc., are usually treated as singular. See -ics. ] (Physics.) The science of sounds, teaching their nature, phenomena, and laws. [ 1913 Webster ]

Acoustics, then, or the science of sound, is a very considerable branch of physics. Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The science is, by some writers, divided, into diacoustics, which explains the properties of sounds coming directly from the ear; and catacoustica, which treats of reflected sounds or echoes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Astron.) an optical system used in some telescopes since the 1980's which rapidly changes the shape of the primary reflecting mirror to adjust for distortions of light which are caused by atmospheric turbulence. By reducing the distortions caused by the atmosphere, telescopes fitted with such optics can achieve a higher resolving power than normal telescopes with static mirrors. [ PJC ]

n. The science or art of ascending and sailing in the air, as by means of a balloon; aërial navigation; ballooning. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science that treats of the equilibrium of elastic fluids, or that of bodies sustained in them. Hence it includes aëronautics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Aero- + therapeutics. ] (Med.) Treatment of disease by the use of air or other gases. AS [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Aëro- + Gr. &unr_; shaken, &unr_; to shake. ] (Aëronautics) The science of gliding and soaring flight. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. The science of athletic combats, or contests in public games. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science of representing spoken sounds by letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The science of reflected light, now called catoptrics. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The science of reflected sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Opt.) That part of optics which treats of the refraction of light; -- commonly called dioptrics. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art of carving in low relief, embossing, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science of analysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That branch of theology which defends the Holy Scriptures, and sets forth the evidence of their divine authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The theory and practice of navigation through the upper atmosphere or outer space; the science of travel beyond the Earth's atmosphere. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. The art of training by athletic exercises; the games and sports of athletes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Ciwil Law) A collection of the Novels or New Constitutions of Justinian, by an anonymous author; -- so called on account of its authenticity. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. balistique. See Ballista. ] The science or art of hurling missile weapons by the use of an engine. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The science treating the motion of projectiles in flight, especially when they are in free fall within the earth's gravitational field. [ PJC ]

3. The study of the characteristics of a cartridge fired from a firearm, and of the processes occurring during the discharge of a firearm. [ PJC ]

4. The division within a police department which studies the characteristics of cartridges fired from a firearm; the ballistics department. The characteristics of the weapons and bullets fired may be used as evidence in criminal investigations. [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. bi`os life + &unr_;. See Statics. ] (Biol.) The physical phenomena of organized bodies, in opposition to their organic or vital phenomena. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. bi`os life + E. statistics. ] (Biol.) Vital statistics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. use of data (e. g. cytogenetic or biochemical) to assess taxonomic relations esp within an evolutionary framework.
Syn. -- biosystematy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. [ From physicists S. N. Bose, and Albert Einstein. ] (Physics) A law of statistical mechanics which is obeyed by a system of particles when interchange of two particles does not change the wave function. Contrasted to Fermi-Dirac statistics. See also boson. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. caméralistique, G. kameralistik, fr. L. camera vault, LL., chamber, treasury. ] The science of finance or public revenue. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. [ Gr. &unr_; to exchange; kata` wholly + &unr_; to change. ] The science of exchanges, a branch of political economy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science or practice of instructing by questions and answers. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Gr. &unr_; (sc. &unr_; art): cf. F. céroplastique. ] The art of modeling in wax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; 9sc. &unr_;) the art of traffic, fr. &unr_; goods, money, fr. &unr_; to use. ] The science of wealth; the science, or a branch of the science, of political economy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science of colors; that part of optics which treats of the properties of colors. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. sing. See Kinematics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. kynhgetikh` (sc. te`chnh art), fr. kynhge`ths hunter; ky`wn, kyno`s, dog + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to lead. ] The art of hunting with dogs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The department of knowledge relative to the care and culture of the people; sociology in its broadest sense; -- in library cataloguing. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. diacoustique. ] That branch of natural philosophy which treats of the properties of sound as affected by passing through different mediums; -- called also diaphonics. See the Note under Acoustics.

n. That part of medicine which has to do with ascertaining the nature of diseases by means of their symptoms or signs. [ 1913 Webster ]

His rare skill in diagnostics. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. dialectica (sc. ars), Gr. &unr_; (sc. &unr_;): cf. F. dialectique. ] That branch of logic which teaches the rules and modes of reasoning; the application of logical principles to discursive reasoning; the science or art of discriminating truth from error; logical discussion. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Dialectics was defined by Aristotle to be the method of arguing with probability on any given problem, and of defending a tenet without inconsistency. By Plato, it was used in the following senses: 1. Discussion by dialogue as a method of scientific investigation. 2. The method of investigating the truth by analysis. 3. The science of ideas or of the nature and laws of being -- higher metaphysics. By Kant, it was employed to signify the logic of appearances or illusions, whether these arise from accident or error, or from those necessary limitations which, according to this philosopher, originate in the constitution of the human intellect. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art or science of teaching. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That part of the medical or hygienic art which relates to diet or food; rules for diet. [ 1913 Webster ]

To suppose that the whole of dietetics lies in determining whether or not bread is more nutritive than potatoes. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science which treats of Christian doctrinal theology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art or science of measuring the force or velocity of projectiles by means of electricity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That branch of electrical science which treats of electricity in motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physics) That branch of science which treats of statical electricity or electric force in a state of rest. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) The branch of medical science which treats of the applications agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) The art of declining and conjugating words. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the branch of dentistry dealing with diseases of the dental pulp.
Syn. -- endodontia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. the treatment of diseases of the dental pulp, especially by completely removing the pulp and nerve inside a tooth and its root, and replacing it with a filling material; root canal therapy; pulp canal therapy. [ PJC ]

n. That branch of science which treats of the laws governing the physical or mechanical, in distinction from the vital, forces, and which comprehends the consideration and general investigation of the whole range of the forces concerned in physical phenomena. [ R. ]

/mhw>, n. [ Gr. &unr_; perceptive, esp. by feeling, fr. &unr_; to perceive, feel: cf. G. ästhetik, F. esthétique. ] The theory or philosophy of taste; the science of the beautiful in nature and art; esp. that which treats of the expression and embodiment of beauty by art. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; a., a., n. etc. Same as æsthete, æsthetic, æsthetical, æsthetics, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. e'yektiko`s healthy. ] The branch of medical science which teaches the method of acquiring a good habit of body. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science of interpretation or exegesis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the branch of dentistry dealing with extraction of teeth.
Syn. -- exodontia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. that branch of optics which studies the transmission of light through thin transparent fibers. Light transmission through optical fibers has become an important means of data and telephone signal transmission, in some areas superseding the carrying of vioce and data signals through electrical pulses over copper wire. It is also used for directly carrying images from otherwise inaccessible locations, as from inside the body, for medical procedures. Light transmission via fiber optics for data transmission uses an optical fiber made of specially purified glass with low light absorption characteristics. [ PJC ]