- Medea n. Greek Mythology A princess and sorceress of Colchis who helped Jason
obtain the Golden Fleece, lived as his consort, and killed their children as
revenge for his infidelity.
- medevac n. 1. Air transport of persons to a place where they can receive
medical or surgical care; medical evacuation. 2. A helicopter or other
aircraft used for such transport. tr.v.
- mediagenic adj. Attractive as a subject for reporting by news media: "a minor
leaguer of bumptious manner and mediagenic good looks." (Larry Martz)
- median strip n. The dividing area, either paved or landscaped, between
opposing lanes of traffic on some highways. Also called median; also called
regionally boulevard, mall, medial strip, meridian, neutral ground.
- medical law n. The branch of law that deals with the application of medical
knowledge to legal problems. See medicolegal.
- medicide n. suicide accomplished with the aid of a physician.
- medicine show n. A traveling show, popular especially in the 19th century,
that offered varied entertainment, between the acts of which medicines were
peddled.
- Medigap adj. Private health insurance designed to supplement the coverage
provided under governmental programs such as Medicare.
- medusa n. The tentacled, usually bell-shaped, free-swimming sexual stage in
the life cycle of a coelenterate, such as a jellyfish.
- medusoid n. 1. A shape resembling a jellyfish. 2. A jellyfish. adj.
- meed n. 1. A fitting recompense. 2. Archaic A merited gift or wage.
- meet2 adj. Fitting; proper: "It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place"
(Shakespeare).
- megadeath n. One million deaths. Used as a unit in reference to nuclear
warefare.
- megalith n. A very large stone used in various prehistorical architectures or
monumental styles, notably in western Europe during the 2nd millennium B.C.
--megalithic adj.
- megalomania n. 1. A psychological condition characterized by delusional
fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence. 2. An obsession with grandiose or
extravagant things or actions.
Other interesting mega's: megabuck, megachurch, megafauna, megahit,
megalopolis, megalosaur, megaphone, megapode, megavitamin.
- melano or melan- pref. Black; dark: melanin.
- melancholia n. A mental disorder characterized by severe depression, guilt,
hopelessness, and withdrawal.
- melanoma n. A dark-pigmented, usually malignant tumor arising from a
melanocyte and occurring most commonly in skin.
- Melba toast n. Very thinly sliced crisp toast. [After Dame Nellie Melba.]
- melee n. 1a. Confused, hand-to-hand fighting in a pitched battle. b. A violent
free-for-all. 2. A confused tumultuous mingling, as of a crowd: the rush-hour
melee.
- meliorate v. -tr. To make better; improve. -intr. To grow better. -meliorable
adj. -meliorative adj. &n.
- meliorism n. The belief that improvement of society depends on human effort.
- mellifluous adj. 1. Flowing with sweetness or honey. 2. Smooth and sweet:
"polite and cordial, with a mellifluous, well-educated voice" (H.W. Crocker).
- mellow adj. 1a. Soft, sweet, juicy, and full-flavored because of ripeness: a
mellow fruit. b. Suggesting softness or sweetness: "The mellow air brought in
the feel of imminent autumn" (Thomas Hardy). 2. Rich and soft in quality: a
mellow sound; a mellow wine. 3. Having the gentleness, wisdom, or tolerance
often characteristic of maturity. 4. Relaxed and unhurried; easygoing: a
mellow friend; a mellow conversation 5. Slang a. Slightly and pleasantly
intoxicated. b. Pleasantly high from a drug, especially from smoking
marijuana. 6. Moist, rich, soft, and loamy. Used of soil. tr.&intr.v. To make
or become mellow.
- melt v. -intr. 3. To disappear or vanish gradually as if by dissolving: The
crowd melted away after the rally. 5. To become softened in feeling: Our
hearts melted at the child's tears. n. A usually open sandwich topped with
melted cheese: a tuna melt.
- member n. 2. A part or an organ of a human or animal body, as: a. A limb, such
as an arm or a leg. b. The penis.
- memetics n. The study of memes and their social and cultural effects.
- memory n. 10. The capacity of a material, such as plastic or metal, to return
to a previous shape after deformation. 11. Immunology The ability of the
immune system to respond faster and more powerfully to subsequent exposure to
an antigen.
- menage n. 1. People living together as a unit; a household. 2. The management
of a household.
- menage a trois n. A relationship in which three people, such as a married
couple and a lover, living together.
- menagerie n. 1a. A collection of live wild animals on exhibition. b. An
enclosure in which wild animals are kept. 2. A diverse or miscellaneous group.
