- metamorphosis n. 1. A transformation, as by magic or sorcery. 2. A marked
change in appearance, character, condition, or function. 3. Biology A change
in the form and often habits of an animal during normal development after the
embryonic stage. Metamorphosis includes, in insects, the transformation of a
maggot into an adult fly and a caterpillar into a butterfly and, in
amphibians, the changing of a tadpole into a frog. 4. Pathology A usually
degenerative change in the structure of a particular body tissue.
- metasomatism also metasomatosis n. The process by which the chemical
composition of a rock is changed by interaction with fluids; replacement of
one mineral by another without melting.
- metastasis n. 1. Pathology Transmission of pathogenic microorganisms or
cancerous cells from an original site to one or more sites elsewhere in the
body, usually by way of the blood vessels or lymphatics. 2. A secondary
cancerous growth formed by transmission of cancerous cells from a primary
growth located elsewhere in the body.
- metastasize intr.v. 1. To be transmitted by metastasis. 2. To be changed or
transformed, especially dangerously: "a need for love that would metastasize
into an insatiable craving for attention" (Michiko Kakutani). 3. To spread,
especially destructively.
- metate n. A stone block with a shallow concave surface, used with a mano for
grinding corn or other grains.
- mete1 tr.v. 1. To distribute by or as if by measure; allot: mete out justice.
2. Archaic To measure.
- mete2 n. A boundary line; a limit.
- metempsychosis n. Reincarnation.
- meteor n. A bright trail or streak that appears in the sky where a meteoroid
is heated to incandescence by friction with the earth's atmosphere. Also
called falling star, meteor burst, shooting star.
- meteoric adj. 1. Of, relating to, or formed by a meteoroid. 2. Of or relating
to the earth's atmosphere. 3. Similar to a meteor in speed, brilliance, or
brevity: a meteoric rise to fame.
- meter maid n. A woman member of a police traffic control department who issues
tickets for parking violations.
- metestrus n. The period of sexual inactivity that follows estrus.
- meth n. Slang Methamphetamine.
- methamphetamine n. An amine derivative of amphetamine, C10H15N, used in the
form of its crystalline hydrochloride as a central nervous system stimulant,
both medically and illicitly.
- methane n. An odorless, colorless, flammable gas, CH4, the major constituent
of natural gas, that is used as a fuel and is an important source of hydrogen
and a wide variety of organic compounds.
- Methodist n. 1. A member of an evangelical Protestant church founded on the
principles of John and Charles Wesley in England in the early 18th century and
characterized by active concern with social welfare and public morals.
- metier n. 1. An occupation, a trade, or a profession. 2. Work or activity for
which a person is particularly suited; one's specialty. See synonyms at
forte1.
- metis n. 1. A person of mixed racial ancestry.
- metonymy n. A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for
another with which it is closely associated, as in the use of Washington for
the U.S. government or of the sword for military power.
- metoo or me-too adj. Informal Using principles, practices, or designs copied
from and closely similar to those of a rival: "Ready availability of
inexpensive components has created an age of metoo hardware in everything from
mainframes to personal computers" (Business Week).
- mew1 n. 1. A cage for hawks, especially when molting. 2. A secret place; a
hideaway. 3. mews a. A group of buildings originally containing private
stables, often converted into residential apartments. b. A small street,
alley, or courtyard on which such buildings stand. v. -tr. To confine in or as
if in a cage. -intr. To molt. Used of a hawk.
- mezuzah n. A small piece of parchment inscribed with the biblical passages
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 and marked with the word Shaddai, a name of the
Almighty that is rolled up in a container and affixed by many Jewish
households to their door frames in conformity with Jewish law and as a sign of
their faith.
- mezzaluna n. A curved steel blade, often with a vertical handle at each end,
used to chop food.
- miasma n. 1. A noxious atmosphere or influence: "The family affection, the
family expectations, seemed to permeate the atmosphere ... like a coiling
miasma" (Louis Auchincloss). 2a. A poisonous atmosphere formerly thought to
rise from swamps and putrid matter and cause disease. b. A thick vaporous
atmosphere or emanation: wreathed in a miasma of cigarette smoke.
- Michael n. The guardian angel of the Jews in the Hebrew Scriptures.
- Michaelmas n. 1. A Christian feast observed in honor of the archangel Michael.
2. September 29, the day on which this feast is observed.
- Mickey Mouse adj. Slang 1a. Unimportant; trivial: "It's a Mickey Mouse
operation compared to what goes on in Lyons or Paris" (Jack Higgins). b.
Irritatingly petty: the school's Mickey Mouse requirements for graduation. 2.
Intellectually unchallenging; simple: His Mickey Mouse assignments soon bored
the students. 3. Melodramatic or sentimental. Used especially of popular
music.
- mickey n. 1. Informal A roasted potato. 2. Canadian Slang A small bottle of
liquor, shaped to fit in a pocket. 3. also Mickey Slang A Mickey Finn.
--idiom: take the mickey out of Chiefly British To tease or mock (someone).
- microcredit n. The business or policy of making microloans to impoverished
entrepreneurs. Also called microlending.
- microdot n. A copy or photograph reduced to an extremely small size for ease
of transport and purposes of security.
- microsleep n. A period of sleep that lasts up to a few seconds, usually
experienced by people who have narcolepsy or are severely deprived of sleep.
- midcourse n. 1. The part of a missile flight between the end of the launching
phase and reentry, during which corrective maneuvers are made.
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