n. 1. a neurotransmitter released by the transmitting dendron at autononmous synapses and at neuromuscular junctions. It is a quaternary amine with an obligatory negative counterion. The nominal formula for the hydroxide form is C7H17NO3. Structural formula (CH3)3N(+)CH2CH2.O.CO.CH3.OH(-). Acetylcholine is the first recognized and best-studied of the neurotransmitters. At receptors it is recycled into choline by the action of acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors therefore function as nerve poisons. For biochemical studies it is prepared typically in the chloride or bromide forms. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. 1. an enzyme which exists in nerve cells and hydrolyses acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid. It is essential for neurotransmission at autonomous synapses and neuromuscular junctions, and its inhibition by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can paralyze or kill an animal.
Syn. -- ACE [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. 'acholi`a; 'a priv. + cholh` bile. ] (Med.) Deficiency or lack of bile. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Lacking bile. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called from Bucholz, a German chemist. ] (Min.) Same as Fibrolite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. cacholong, said to be from Cach, the name of a river in Bucharia + cholon, a Calmuck word for stone; or fr. a Calmuck word meaning “beautiful stone” ] (Min.) An opaque or milk-white chalcedony, a variety of quartz; also, a similar variety of opal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ . ] any of a group of chemicals having a benzene ring substituted with two hydroxyl groups in ortho position, especially ortho-dihydroxybenzene itself (C6H6O2), also called pyrocatechol, used in photography and as a reagent. [ PJC ]

n. [ catechol + amine. ] any of a group of chemicals including epinephrine and norepinephrine that are produced in the medulla of the adrenal gland. They function as nerotransmitters in the sympathetic nervous system. Also, any structurally related chemical substance, whether natural or synthetic. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. cholh` bile + a"i^ma blood.] (Med.) A disease characterized by severe nervous symptoms, dependent upon the presence of the constituents of the bile in the blood. [1913 Webster]

a. [ Gr. cholagwgo`s; cholh` bile + 'agwgo`s leading, 'a`gein to lead: cf. F. cholagogue. ] (Med.) Promoting the discharge of bile from the system. -- n. An agent which promotes the discharge of bile from the system. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. cholh` bile. ] (Chem.) A salt of cholic acid; as, sodium cholate. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. cholh` bile + &unr_; bladder. ] (Anat.) The gall bladder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cholecystis + Gr. te`mnein to cut. ] (Surg.) The operation of making an opening in the gall bladder, as for the removal of a gallstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. cholh` bile + -logy. Cf. F. cholédologie. ] (Med.) A treatise on the bile and bilary organs. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Littré says that the word cholédologie is absolutely barbarous, there being no Greek word &unr_;. A proper form would be cholology. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, bile; as, choleic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. coler, F. colère anger, L. cholera a bilious complaint, fr. Gr. &unr_; cholera, fr. &unr_;, cholh`, bile. See Gall, and cf. Cholera. ] 1. The bile; -- formerly supposed to be the seat and cause of irascibility. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His [ Richard Hooker's ] complexion . . . was sanguine, with a mixture of choler; and yet his motion was slow. I. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Irritation of the passions; anger; wrath. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is rash and very sudden in choler. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., a bilious disease. See Choler. ] (Med.) One of several diseases affecting the digestive and intestinal tract and more or less dangerous to life, esp. the one commonly called Asiatic cholera. [ 1913 Webster ]

Asiatic cholera, a malignant and rapidly fatal disease, originating in Asia and frequently epidemic in the more filthy sections of other lands, to which the germ or specific poison may have been carried. It is characterized by diarrhea, rice-water evacuations, vomiting, cramps, pinched expression, and lividity, rapidly passing into a state of collapse, followed by death, or by a stage of reaction of fever. --
Cholera bacillus. See Comma bacillus. --
Cholera infantum, a dangerous summer disease, of infants, caused by hot weather, bad air, or poor milk, and especially fatal in large cities. --
Cholera morbus, a disease characterized by vomiting and purging, with gripings and cramps, usually caused by imprudence in diet or by gastrointestinal disturbance. --
Chicken cholera. See under Chicken. --
Hog cholera. See under Hog. --
Sporadic cholera, a disease somewhat resembling the Asiatic cholera, but originating where it occurs, and rarely becoming epidemic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to, or resulting from, or resembling, cholera. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. cholericus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. cholérique. ] 1. Abounding with, or producing choler, or bile. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Easily irritated; irascible; inclined to anger. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Angry; indicating anger; excited by anger. “Choleric speech.” Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Choleric temperament, the bilious temperament. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a choleric manner; angrily. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cholera + -form. ] Resembling cholera. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) (a) The precursory symptoms of cholera. (b) The first stage of epidemic cholera. (c) A mild form of cholera. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cholera + -oid. ] Choleriform. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. cholestérique. ] Pertaining to cholesterin, or obtained from it; as, cholesteric acid. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; bile + &unr_; stiff fat: F. cholestérine. See Stearin. ] (Chem.) A white, fatty, crystalline substance, tasteless and odorless, found in animal and plant products and tissue, and especially in nerve tissue, in the bile, and in gallstones. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ L. choliambus, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; lame + &unr_; an iambus. ] (Pros.) A verse having an iambus in the fifth place, and a spondee in the sixth or last. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; bile. ] (Physiol. Chem.) See Neurine. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;, from &unr_; bile. ] (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, the bile. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cholic acid (Chem.), a complex organic acid found as a natural constituent of taurocholic and glycocholic acids in the bile, and extracted as a resinous substance, convertible under the influence of ether into white crystals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, bile + &unr_; color. ] (Physiol.) See Bilirubin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, bile + &unr_; dusky. ] (Physiol.) See Bilirubin. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. A Hindoo caravansary. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Pertaining to, or connected with, conchology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One who studies, or is versed in, conchology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Conch + -logy. ] (Zool.) The science of Mollusca, and of the shells which they form; malacology. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without echo or response. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. Named after Dr. Eschscholtz, a German botanist. ] (Bot.) A genus of papaveraceous plants, found in California and upon the west coast of North America, some species of which produce beautiful yellow, orange, rose-colored, or white flowers; the California poppy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. euchologe. ] Euchology. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. euchologion, Gr. &unr_; prayer book; &unr_; prayer, vow (fr. &unr_; to pray) + &unr_; to say, speak. ] (Eccl.) A formulary of prayers; the book of offices in the Greek Church, containing the liturgy, sacraments, and forms of prayers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Glycocoll + cholic. ] (Physiol. Chem.) A salt of glycocholic acid; as, sodium glycocholate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or composed of, glycocoll and cholic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Glycocholic acid (Physiol. Chem.), a conjugate acid, composed of glycocoll and cholic acid, present in bile in the form of a sodium salt. The acid commonly forms a resinous mass, but can be crystallized in long, white needles. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. See Melancholy. ] (Med.) A kind of mental unsoundness characterized by extreme depression of spirits, ill-grounded fears, delusions, and brooding over one particular subject or train of ideas. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person affected with melancholy; a melancholic. [ Obs. ] Dr. J. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. melancholicus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. mélancholique. ] Given to melancholy; depressed; melancholy; dejected; unhappy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Just as the melancholic eye
Sees fleets and armies in the sky. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] 1. One affected with a gloomy state of mind. J. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A gloomy state of mind; melancholy. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a melancholy manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being melancholy. Hallywell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. OF. melancholieux. ] Melancholy. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One affected with melancholy or dejection. [ Obs. ] Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become gloomy or dejected in mind. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make melancholy. [ 1913 Webster ]