Word Meanings - AMBERGRIS - Book Publishers vocabulary database

A substance of the consistence of wax, found floating in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the tropics, and also as a morbid secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which is believed to be in all cases its true

Additional info about word: AMBERGRIS

A substance of the consistence of wax, found floating in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the tropics, and also as a morbid secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which is believed to be in all cases its true origin. In color it is white, ash-gray, yellow, or black, and often variegated like marble. The floating masses are sometimes from sixty to two hundred and twenty-five pounds in weight. It is wholly volatilized as a white vapor at 212º Fahrenheit, and is highly valued in perfumery. Dana. (more info) gray, which is of German origin: cf. OS. grîs, G. greis, gray-haired.

Related words: (words related to AMBERGRIS)

• MORBIDEZZA
  Delicacy or softness in the representation of flesh.
• SPERMATOCYTE
  See SPERMOBLAST
• INDIANEER
  An Indiaman.
• SPERMATIC
  Of or pertaining to semen; as, the spermatic fluid, the spermatic vessels, etc. Spermatic cord , the cord which suspends the testicle within the scrotum. It is made up of a connective tissue sheath inclosing the spermatic duct and accompanying
• SPERMATICAL
  Spermatic.
• SUBSTANCE
  To furnish or endow with substance; to supply property to; to make rich.
• FOUNDATION
  The lowest and supporting part or member of a wall, including the base course , under Base, n.) and footing courses; in a frame house, the whole substructure of masonry. 4. A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution,
• OTHERGUISE; OTHERGUESS
  Of another kind or sort; in another way. "Otherguess arguments." Berkeley.
• SPERMATOZOOID
  A spermatozoid.
• SPERMOPHYTE
  Any plant which produces true seeds; -- a term recently proposed to replace phænogam.
• SPERMISM
  The theory, formerly held by many, that the sperm or spermatozoön contains the germ of the future embryo; animalculism.
• FOUND
  1. To lay the basis of; to set, or place, as on something solid, for support; to ground; to establish upon a basis, literal or figurative; to fix firmly. I had else been perfect, Whole as the marble, founded as the rock. Shak. A man that all his
• FLOATATION
  See FLOTATION
• SPERMATOGENETIC
  Relating to, or connected with, spermatogenesis; as, spermatogenetic function.
• WHALE
  Any aquatic mammal of the order Cetacea, especially any one of the large species, some of which become nearly one hundred feet long. Whales are hunted chiefly for their oil and baleen, or whalebone. Note: The existing whales are divided into two
• FOUNDATIONER
  One who derives support from the funds or foundation of a college or school.
• SPERMATOPHOROUS
  Producing seed, or sperm; seminiferous; as, the so-called spermatophorous cells.
• SPERMIC
  Of or pertaining to sperm, or semen.
• SPERMATOPHORE
  See SPERMOSPORE
• SPERM WHALE
  A very large toothed whale , having a head of enormous size. The upper jaw is destitute of teeth. In the upper part of the head, above the skull, there is a large cavity, or case, filled with oil and spermaceti. This whale sometimes grows to the
• ANGIOMONOSPERMOUS
  Producing one seed only in a seed pod.
• NOTOTHERIUM
  An extinct genus of gigantic herbivorous marsupials, found in the Pliocene formation of Australia.
• OOSPERM; OOESPERM
  The ovum, after fusion with the spermatozoön in impregnation. Balfour.
• CONFOUNDED
  1. Confused; perplexed. A cloudy and confounded philosopher. Cudworth. 2. Excessive; extreme; abominable. He was a most confounded tory. Swift. The tongue of that confounded woman. Sir. W. Scott.
• ISOGEOTHERMAL; ISOGEOTHERMIC
  Pertaining to, having the nature of, or marking, isogeotherms; as, an isogeothermal line or surface; as isogeothermal chart. -- n.
• SMOTHER
  Etym: 1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child. 2. To affect as by suffocation; to stife; to deprive of air by a thick
• ISOTHEROMBROSE
  A line connecting or marking points on the earth's surface, which have the same mean summer rainfall.
• TRACHYSPERMOUS
  Rough-seeded. Gray.
• ANOTHER-GUESS
  Of another sort. It used to go in another-guess manner. Arbuthnot.
• FOUNDER
  One who founds, establishes, and erects; one who lays a foundation; an author; one from whom anything originates; one who endows.
• UNMOTHERED
  Deprived of a mother; motherless.
• ISOTHERMAL
  Relating to equality of temperature. Having reference to the geographical distribution of temperature, as exhibited by means of isotherms; as, an isothermal line; an isothermal chart. Isothermal line. An isotherm. A line drawn on a diagram
• EAST INDIAN
  Belonging to, or relating to, the East Indies. -- n.