n. [ Aëro- + Gr. fyto`n plant, fy`ein to grow: cf. F. aérophyte. ] (Bot.) A plant growing entirely in the air, and receiving its nourishment from it; an air plant or epiphyte. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'asth`r star + fy`llon leaf. ] (Paleon.) A fossil plant from the coal formations of Europe and America, now regarded as the branchlets and foliage of calamites. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the physics of astronomical science. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an astronomer who studies the physical properties of celestial bodies. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Astro- + physics. ] (Astron.) The science treating of the physical characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies, their chemical constitution, light, heat, atmospheres, etc. It is a branch of astronomy. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Its observations were traditionally made with the spectroscope, bolometer, etc., usually in connection with the telescope. In modern times, radiotelescopes, infrared telescopes, X-ray and gamma ray detectors and neutrino detection equipment located deep underground are all put into service to observe and test theories about astronomical phenomena. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. 1. the concerned with the physical and chemical properties of celestial bodies. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ Astro- + Gr. fyton a plant. ] (Zool.) A genus of ophiurans having the arms much branched. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. atrophia, Gr. &unr_;; 'a priv. + &unr_; to nourish: cf. F. atrophie. ] A wasting away from lack of nourishment; diminution in bulk or slow emaciation of the body or of any part. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ p. p. Atrophied ] To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To waste away; to dwindle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chlwro`s light green + fy`llon leaf: cf. F. chlorophylle. ] 1. (Bot.) Literally, leaf green; a green granular matter formed in the cells of the leaves (and other parts exposed to light) of plants, to which they owe their green color, and through which all ordinary assimilation of plant food takes place. Similar chlorophyll granules have been found in the tissues of the lower animals. [ Written also chlorophyl. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. any of a group of green pigments found in photosynthetic organisms. Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are found in higher plants and green algae; chlorophyll c is found in certain types of marine algae. Chemically, it has a porphyrin ring with a magnesium ion bound to the four central nitrogens, and has a phytyl side chain. It is essential for photosynthesis in most plants. Chlorophyll a has formula C55H72N4O5Mg.
Syn. -- chlorophyll. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a class of cone-bearing gymnosperms dating from the Carboniferous; most are substantial trees; it includes the classes Pinopsida (subdivision Pinophytina) and Ginkgopsida (subdivision Ginkgophytina) and Taxopsida (subdivision Taxophytina) which in turn include the surviving orders Coniferales and Taxales (yews) and sometimes Ginkgoales as well as extinct orders such as Cordaitales (of the Carboniferous and Permian) and Volztiales (of the Permian-Jurassic).
Syn. -- Coniferopsida, class Coniferopsida, Coniferophytina, subdivision Coniferophytina. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ , n. [ Gr. 'eryqro`s red + &unr_; leaf. ] (Physiol. Bot.) The red coloring matter of leaves, fruits, flowers, etc., in distinction from chlorophyll. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; nourishing, healthy; e'y^ well + &unr_; to nourish. ] (Med.) Healthy nutrition; soundless as regards the nutritive functions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; to turn inside out; &unr_; = &unr_; out + &unr_; to turn. ] (Med.) The eversion or turning out of any organ, or of its inner surface; as, exstrophy of the eyelid or of the bladder. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; other + &unr_; leaf: cf. F. hétérophylle. ] (Bot.) Having leaves of more than one shape on the same plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. L. Hydrophyllia E. Hydrophylliums [ NL., fr. Gr. "y`dwr water + &unr_; a leaf.] (Zool.) One of the flat, leaflike, protective zooids, covering other zooids of certain Siphonophora. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; + &unr_; plant: cf. F. hydrophyte. ] An aquatic plant; an alga. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Hydro- + phyte + -logy. ] The branch of botany which treats of water plants.

n. [ Gr. "ype`r over, beyond + &unr_; nourishment, fr. &unr_; to nourish: cf. F. hypertrophie.] (Med. & Biol.) A condition of overgrowth or excessive development of an organ or part; -- the opposite of atrophy. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "y`steros following + fyto`n plant.] (Bot.) A plant, like the fungus, which lives on dead or living organic matter. -- Hys`ter*oph"y*tal a. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Macro- + Gr. &unr_; a leaf. ] (Bot.) Having long or large leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Micro- + Gr. fy`llon leaf. ] (Bot.) Small-leaved. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Pertaining to, or of the nature of, microphytes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + Gr. &unr_; a plant: cf. F. microphyte. ] (Bot.) A very minute plant, one of certain unicellular algae, such as the germs of various infectious diseases are believed to be. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. orphanotrophium, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; an orphan + &unr_; to feed, bring up. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A hospital for orphans. [ R. ] A. Chalmers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of supporting orphans. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. paidotrofi`a, fr. pai^s, paido`s, a child + tre`fein to nourish: cf. F. pédotrophie. ] The art of nourishing children properly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. prophylactique. ] (Med.) A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , a. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to guard against; &unr_; before + &unr_; to guard: cf. F. prophylactique. ] (Med.) Defending or preserving from disease; preventive. Coxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Prophylactic. ] (Med.) The art of preserving from, or of preventing, disease; the observance of the rules necessary for the preservation of health; preservative or preventive treatment. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pyro- + Gr. &unr_; leaf. ] (Min.) A mineral, usually of a white or greenish color and pearly luster, consisting chiefly of the hydrous silicate of alumina. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. sapro`s rotten + fyto`n a plant. ] (Bot.) Any plant growing on decayed animal or vegetable matter, as most fungi and some flowering plants with no green color, as the Indian pipe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Feeding or growing upon decaying animal or vegetable matter; pertaining to a saprophyte or the saprophytes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State or fact of being saprophytic. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Spore + Gr. fyto`n plant. ] (Bot.) In plants exhibiting alternation of generations, the generation which bears asexual spores; -- opposed to gametophyte. It is not clearly differentiated in the life cycle of the lower plants. -- Spo`ro*phyt"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

n.; pl. Trophies [ F. trophée (cf. It. & Sp. trofeo), L. tropaeum, trophaeum, Gr. &unr_;, strictly, a monument of the enemy's defeat, fr.&unr_; a turn, especially, a turning about of the enemy, a putting to flight or routing him, fr. &unr_; to turn. See Trope. ] 1. (Gr. & Rom. Antiq.) A sign or memorial of a victory raised on the field of battle, or, in case of a naval victory, on the nearest land. Sometimes trophies were erected in the chief city of the conquered people. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A trophy consisted originally of some of the armor, weapons, etc., of the defeated enemy fixed to the trunk of a tree or to a post erected on an elevated site, with an inscription, and a dedication to a divinity. The Romans often erected their trophies in the Capitol. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The representation of such a memorial, as on a medal; esp. (Arch.), an ornament representing a group of arms and military weapons, offensive and defensive. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything taken from an enemy and preserved as a memorial of victory, as arms, flags, standards, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Around the posts hung helmets, darts, and spears,
And captive chariots, axes, shields, and bars,
And broken beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any evidence or memorial of victory or conquest; as, every redeemed soul is a trophy of grace. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

Trophy money, a duty paid formerly in England, annually, by housekeepers, toward providing harness, drums, colors, and the like, for the militia. [ 1913 Webster ]

pr. n. A small genus of North American herbs having grasslike basal leaves: squaw grass; sometimes placed in family Melanthiaceae.
Syn. -- genus Xerophyllum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A plant adapted for life with a limited supply of water; compare hydrophyte and mesophyte.
Syn. -- desert plant, xerophytic plant, xerophile, xerophilous plant. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. (Botany) [ Gr. xhro`s dry + fyto`n a plant. ] Adapted to a xeric (or dry) environment; as, cacti are xerophytic plants; xerophytic adaptations. [ WordNet 1.5 ]