<B>diol, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a dihydric alcohol, such as glycol. </DL>
<A NAME="diola">
<B>Diola, </B>noun, pl. <B>-la</B> or <B>-las.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a member of one of the six major tribes of Senegal, the leading rice growers. Most of the Diola practice their tribal religions, but a few are Moslems. </DL>
<A NAME="diolefin">
<B>diolefin, </B>noun. <B>=diene.</B></DL>
<A NAME="diomed">
<B>Diomed, </B>noun. <B>=Diomedes.</B></DL>
<A NAME="diomede">
<B>Diomede, </B>noun. <B>=Diomedes.</B></DL>
<A NAME="diomedes">
<B>Diomedes, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Greek Legend.) a Greek hero in the Trojan War who helped Odysseus steal the statue of Athena from Troy. </DL>
<B>Dione, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(Greek Mythology.) a woman Titan, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, and mother by Zeus of Aphrodite. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Astronomy.) a satellite of Saturn, discovered in 1684. </DL>
<A NAME="dionysia">
<B>Dionysia, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> any set of festivals in honor of the Greek god Dionysus (Bacchus). </DL>
<B>Dionysian, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with Dionysus (Bacchus) or the Dionysia. <DD><B> 2. </B>highly individualistic; romantic; exuberant. <BR> <I>Ex. In this concert he was at his Dionysian best (New Yorker).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="dionysus">
<B>Dionysus</B> or <B>Dionysos, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the Greek god of wine; Bacchus. </DL>
<A NAME="diophantineanalysis">
<B>Diophantine analysis,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> analysis of Diophantine equations to determine the presence and nature of integral solutions. </DL>
<A NAME="diophantineequation">
<B>Diophantine equation,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an equation whose coefficients are integers, studied to determine the possibility or range of integral solutions. <BR> <I>Ex. This reduces to 98y - 199x = 5, a Diophantine equation with an infinite number of integral solutions (Scientific American).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="diopside">
<B>diopside, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Mineralogy.) a transparent variety of pyroxene. </DL>
<A NAME="dioptase">
<B>dioptase, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Mineralogy.) a translucent silicate of copper, found in green, six-sided crystals. </DL>
<A NAME="diopter">
<B>diopter</B> or <B>dioptre, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Optics.) a unit of refractive power, equal to that of a lens whose focal length is one meter; dioptrie. <BR> <I>Ex. In the empty, cloudless sky, the eye involuntarily exerts about one dioptre of accommodation (Science News Letter).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="dioptometer">
<B>dioptometer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an optical instrument used to measure the refraction of the eye. </DL>
<A NAME="dioptometry">
<B>dioptometry, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the measurement of the accommodation and refraction of the eye. </DL>
<B>dioptric, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with a diopter. <DD><B> 2. </B>of or having to do with dioptrics. <DD><B> 3. </B>having to do with the refraction of light; refractive; refracting. <DD><B> 4. </B>assisting vision; giving a medium for the sight. <BR> <I>Ex. a dioptric lens.</I> adv. <B>dioptrically.</B> </DL>
<B>dioptrics, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the branch of optics dealing with the refraction of light, especially by lenses. </DL>
<A NAME="dioptrie">
<B>dioptrie</B> or <B>dioptry, </B>noun, pl. <B>-tries.</B> <B>=diopter.</B></DL>
<A NAME="diorama">
<B>diorama, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a scene or exhibit showing a group of lifelike sculptured figures of men, animals, and surrounding objects against a painted or modeled background. A diorama is viewed through a windowlike opening. <DD><B> 2. </B>a picture that is usually looked at through a small opening and is lighted from above, the light being diminished or increased to represent changes in the weather, etc. <DD><B> 3. </B>a place where such pictures or scenes are exhibited. </DL>
<A NAME="dioramic">
<B>dioramic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with or like a diorama. </DL>
<A NAME="diorite">
<B>diorite, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a coarse-grained igneous rock consisting essentially of hornblende and feldspar. </DL>
<A NAME="dioritic">
<B>dioritic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with or like diorite. </DL>
<A NAME="dioscorea">
<B>dioscorea, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a group of tropical or temperate vines, many of which bear an edible tuber; yam. They also yield synthetic hormones, such as diosgenin. </DL>
<A NAME="dioscoreaceous">
<B>dioscoreaceous, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> belonging to the family of plants typified by the yam. </DL>
<A NAME="dioscuri">
<B>Dioscuri, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Greek and Roman Mythology.) the twin brothers Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus; Castor was said to be mortal, while Pollux was immortal. After death they were placed in heaven as the constellation Gemini. </DL>
<A NAME="dioscuric">
<B>Dioscuric, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of, having to do with, or resembling the legend of the twins Castor and Pollux. </DL>
<A NAME="diosgenin">
<B>diosgenin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a synthetic female hormone derived from Mexican yams. </DL>
<B>diovular, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having two ovules. </DL>
<A NAME="dioxane">
<B>dioxane, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Chemistry.) a colorless liquid used as a solvent, in making varnishes and lacquers, and in the textile industry. </DL>
<A NAME="dioxid">
<B>dioxid, </B>noun. <B>=dioxide.</B></DL>
<A NAME="dioxide">
<B>dioxide, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Chemistry.) an oxide having two atoms of oxygen for each molecule. </DL>
<A NAME="dioxin">
<B>dioxin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a very poisonous and persistent substance, formed in the manufacture of certain herbicides and other chemicals. It has been found to cause deformities in fetuses. </DL>