<B>auricle, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the chamber of the heart that receives the blood from the veins and forces it into a ventricle; the atrium of the heart. The heart of mammals, birds, and reptiles has two auricles; that of fishes has one auricle. <DD><B> 2. </B>the outer part of the ear in animals; pinna. <DD><B> 3. </B>an earlike part; lobe. </DL>
<A NAME="auricled">
<B>auricled, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having auricles; auriculate. </DL>
<A NAME="auricula">
<B>auricula, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a primrose, a native of the Swiss Alps, having a bright-yellow flower. It is sometimes called <I>bear's-ear</I> from the shape of its leaves. <DD><B> 2. </B>the outer part of the ear; auricle. </DL>
<A NAME="auricular">
<B>auricular, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>having to do with an auricle of the heart. <DD><B> 2. </B>of or near the ear; aural. <DD><B> 3. </B>heard by or addressed to the ear. <BR> <I>Ex. auricular confession.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>shaped like an ear. adv. <B>auricularly.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="auriculars">
<B>auriculars, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> the tuft of feathers covering the orifice of a bird's ear. </DL>
<B>auriculin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a hormone produced by the heart that dilates blood vessels, decreases the rate of heart contractions, and stimulates the excretion of sodium in the urine. <BR> <I>Ex. A lack of ... auriculin could play an important role in causing some forms of hypertension (John H. Laragh).</I> </DL>
<B>auriferous, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> containing or yielding gold. adv. <B>auriferously.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="auriform">
<B>auriform, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> ear-shaped; having the form of the external human ear. </DL>
<A NAME="auriga">
<B>Auriga, </B>noun, (genitive) <B>Aurigae.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a large northern constellation between Perseus and Gemini, the Charioteer or Wagoner. Auriga is supposed to represent a charioteer kneeling in his chariot. </DL>
<A NAME="aurigae">
<B>Aurigae, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> genitive of <B>Auriga.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="aurignacian">
<B>Aurignacian, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with Upper Paleolithic culture, especially that of the Cro-Magnon man. <DD><I>noun </I> an extinct man of the Aurignacian period or culture. </DL>
<A NAME="auriscope">
<B>auriscope, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an instrument for examining the ear; otoscope. </DL>
<A NAME="aurist">
<B>aurist, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a doctor who treats diseases of the ear; otologist. </DL>
<A NAME="aurochs">
<B>aurochs, </B>noun, pl. <B>-rochs.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a bison of Europe, now almost extinct; wisent. <DD><B> 2. </B>an extinct wild ox of Europe; urus. </DL>
<A NAME="aurora">
<B>Aurora, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the Roman goddess of the dawn, identified with the Greek goddess Eos. </DL>
<A NAME="aurora">
<B>aurora, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ras,</B> <B>-rae.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the dawn. <DD><B> 2. </B>streamers or bands of light appearing in the sky at night, especially in polar regions. The aurora is a luminous atmospheric phenomenon due to the impact of streams of particles from the sun on the upper regions of the earth's atmosphere. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) the beginning; early period. </DL>
<A NAME="auroraaustralis">
<B>aurora australis,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the streamers or bands of light appearing in the southern sky at night; southern lights. </DL>
<A NAME="auroraborealis">
<B>aurora borealis,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the streamers or bands of light appearing in the northern sky at night; northern lights. </DL>
<A NAME="auroral">
<B>auroral, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or like the dawn. <DD><B> 2. </B>of the aurora borealis or the aurora australis. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) shining; bright. adv. <B>aurorally.</B> </DL>
<B>AUS</B> (no periods),<DL COMPACT><DD> Army of the United States. </DL>
<A NAME="auscultate">
<B>auscultate, </B>transitive verb, intransitive verb, <B>-tated,</B> <B>-tating.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to examine by listening to sounds within the human body with a stethoscope to determine the condition of the heart, lungs, or abdominal organs. noun <B>auscultation.</B> noun <B>auscultator.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="auscultative">
<B>auscultative, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or of the nature of auscultation. </DL>
<A NAME="auscultatory">
<B>auscultatory, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with auscultation. </DL>
<B>ausform, </B>adjective, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or designating a class of strong, highly ductile steels made by a process of austenitizing, deformation, and quenching and tempering. <DD><I>v.t., v.i. </I> to produce (steel) by the ausform process. </DL>
<B>Auslander, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (German.) a foreigner; stranger. </DL>
<A NAME="auspex">
<B>auspex, </B>noun, pl. <B>-pices.</B> <B>=augur </B>(def. 1).</DL>
<A NAME="auspicate">
<B>auspicate, </B>transitive verb, <B>-cated,</B> <B>-cating.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to initiate (an undertaking) with a ceremony calculated to ensure good luck. <DD><B> 2. </B>to begin; inaugurate. </DL>
<A NAME="auspices">
<B>auspices, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>helpful influence; approval or support; patronage. <BR> <I>Ex. The school fair was held under the auspices of the Parents' Association.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>omens; signs. <BR> <I>Ex. The ancient Romans used to observe the way birds flew as auspices to guide their actions.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="auspicial">
<B>auspicial, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with auspices or augury. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=auspicious.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="auspicious">
<B>auspicious, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>with signs of success; favorable. <BR> <I>Ex. The new boy had an auspicious first day in school.</I> (SYN) propitious, promising, hopeful. <DD><B> 2. </B>prosperous; fortunate. adv. <B>auspiciously.</B> noun <B>auspiciousness.</B> </DL>
<B>austenite, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a nonmagnetic solid solution of carbon in an allotropic form of iron. It is a constituent of steel, under certain conditions. </DL>
<A NAME="austenitic">
<B>austenitic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> containing sufficient nickel, chromium, or manganese to retain austenite at atmospheric temperatures, therefore producing steel that is usually nonmagnetic and resistant to heat and corrosion. </DL>
<A NAME="austenitize">
<B>austenitize, </B>transitive verb, intransitive verb, <B>-ized,</B> <B>-izing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to form austenite by heating (a ferrous alloy). </DL>
<B>austere, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>stern in manner or appearance; harsh. <BR> <I>Ex. Grandfather was a silent, austere man, very strict with his children.</I> (SYN) severe. <DD><B> 2. </B>strict in morals; severe in self-discipline. <BR> <I>Ex. Some of the ideas of the Puritans seem too austere to us. To these austere fanatics a holiday was an object of positive disgust (Macaulay).</I> (SYN) rigorous, relentless. <DD><B> 3. </B>severely simple. <BR> <I>Ex. The tall, plain columns stood against the sky in austere beauty.</I> (SYN) unadorned. <DD><B> 4. </B>grave; sober; serious. <BR> <I>Ex. ... austere and grave in deportment (Longfellow).</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>sour-tasting. adv. <B>austerely.</B> noun <B>austereness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="austerity">
<B>austerity, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ties.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>sternness in manner or appearance; harshness; strictness; severity. <DD><B> 2. </B>severe simplicity. <DD><B> 3. </B>strict limiting or rationing of food, clothing, fuel, or other commodities, in order to conserve national resources. <BR><I>expr. <B>austerities,</B> </I>severe practices, such as going without food or praying all night. <BR> <I>Ex. The austerities and blameless purity of Ximenes's life had given him a reputation for sanctity throughout Spain (W. H. Prescott).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="austin">
<B>Austin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an Austin friar; Augustinian. </DL>
<A NAME="austinfriar">
<B>Austin friar,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a member of a mendicant order (Hermits of Saint Augustine) named for Saint Augustine; an Augustinian. </DL>
<A NAME="austl">
<B>Austl.</B> or <B>Austr.,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> Australia. </DL>
<B>Australasian, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with Australasia or its people. <DD><I>noun </I> a native or inhabitant of Australasia (Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, New Zealand, and other nearby islands). </DL>
