‖n. [ NL. See Aëro-; Taxis. ] (Bacteriology) The positive or negative stimulus exerted by oxygen on aërobic and anaërobic bacteria. -- A`ër*o*tac"tic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

a. [ Cf. F. ataxique. See Ataxia. ] (Med.) Characterized by ataxy, that is, (a) by great irregularity of functions or symptoms, or (b) by a lack of coordinating power in movements. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ataxic fever, malignant typhus fever. Pinel. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. ataxia, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; out of order; 'a priv. + &unr_; ordered, arranged, &unr_; to put in order: cf. F. ataxie. ] 1. Disorder; irregularity. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) (a) Irregularity in disease, or in the functions. (b) The state of disorder that characterizes nervous fevers and the nervous condition. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) Loss of coordination in the voluntary muscles, especially the limbs; an inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements; it results in unsteady movements and a staggering gait. See also locomotor ataxia, an ataxia which occurs when attempting to perform coordinated muscular movements.
Syn. -- ataxy [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

Locomotor ataxia. See Locomotor. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ n. Formerly also }. [ Chemical + Gr. &unr_; arrangement, fr. &unr_; to arrange. ] (Biol.) The sensitiveness exhibited by small free-swimming organisms, as bacteria, zoospores of algæ, etc., to chemical substances held in solution. They may be attracted (positive chemotaxis) or repelled (negative chemotaxis). -- Chem`o*tac"tic a. -- Chem`o*tac"tic*al*ly, adv. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Biology) The movement of cells toward or away from other cells, as a result of some stimulation, such as chemical signals transmitted and received by the cells. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &unr_; to drop. ] (Med.) Bleeding at the nose. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. ] Same as Homotaxis.

{ } a. (Biol.) Relating to homotaxis. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; the same + &unr_; arrangement. ] (Biol.) Similarly in arrangement of parts; -- the opposite of heterotaxy. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; a placing beside, fr. &unr_; to place beside. ] (Gram.) The mere ranging of propositions one after another, without indicating their connection or interdependence; -- opposed to syntax. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖, n. [ NL. phototaxis; photo- + Gr. &unr_; an arranging. ] (Biol.) The influence of light on the movements of low organisms, as various infusorians, the zoospores of certain algæ, etc.; also, the tendency to follow definite directions of motion or assume definite positions under such influence. If the migration is toward the source of light, it is termed
positive phototaxis; if away from the light,
negative phototaxis. -- Pho`to*tac"tic a. -- Pho`to*tac"tic*al*ly, adv. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } n. [ Phyllo- + Gr. ta`xis order. ] (Bot.) The order or arrangement of leaves on the stem; the science of the relative position of leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. post- + axial. ] (Anat.) Situated behind any transverse axis in the body of an animal; caudal; posterior; especially, behind, or on the caudal or posterior (that is, ulnar or fibular) side of, the axis of a vertebrate limb. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Occurring before the symptom ataxia has developed; -- applied to the early symptoms of locomotor ataxia. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a root + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; arrangement. ] (Bot.) The arrangement of the roots of plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. Syntax. [ R. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. same as taxicab. [ PJC ]

2. any vehicle that carries passengers for a fare, as a water taxi. [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; and &unr_;; &unr_; a division of an army, a brigade (from &unr_; to arrange, array) + to rule. ] (Gr. Antiq.) An Athenian military officer commanding a certain division of an army. Milford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. an automobile with a professional driver which can be hired to carry passengers; -- also called a taxi, and informally called a cab or a hack. The driver of a taxicab is referred to as a cab driver or cabbie, and sometimes as a chauffeur or hackie. Taxicabs may be engaged by a prior appointment made, e.g. by telephone, or they may cruise for passengers, i.e. they may drive in city streets and stop to pick up pasengers when they are signalled by a prospective passenger. The act of signalling a taxicab (usually by a wave of the arm) is often called
to hail a cab or
to flag down a cab. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. taxus a yew + cornu a horn: cf. F. taxicorne. ] (Zool.) One of a family of beetles (Taxicornes) whose antennae are largest at the tip. Also used adjectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. taxidermique. ] Of or pertaining to the art of preparing and preserving the skins of animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person skilled in taxidermy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; an arranging, arrangement (fr. &unr_; to arrange) + &unr_; a skin, from &unr_; to skin: cf. F. taxidermie. See Tactics, Tear, v. t. ] The art of preparing, preserving, and mounting the skins of animals so as to represent their natural appearance, as for cabinets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a meter in a taxi that registers the fare (based on the length of the ride). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. taxus a yew. ] (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid of bitter taste extracted from the leaves and seeds of the European yew (Taxus baccata). Called also taxia. The usual preparation is a mixture of compounds. Taxine A has the chemical formula: C35H47NO10. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. ta`xis a division or arrangement, fr. ta`ssein to arrange. ] 1. (Surg.) Manipulation applied to a hernial tumor, or to an intestinal obstruction, for the purpose of reducing it. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In technical uses, as in architecture, biology, grammar, etc., arrangement; order; ordonnance. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. a reflexive movement by a motile organism by which it moves or orients itself in relation to some source of stimulation; as, chemotaxis, the motion toward or away from gradients of certain chemical compounds. [ PJC ]

n. combining form for taxis{ 3 }. [ PJC ]

a. [ Thermo- + Gr. &unr_; arrangement. ] (Physiol.) Pertaining to, or connected with, the regulation of temperature in the animal body; as, the thermotaxic nervous system. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL.; thermo- + Gr. &unr_; an arranging. ] (Physiol.) (a) The property possessed by protoplasm of moving under the influence of heat. (b) Determination of the direction of locomotion by heat. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; touch + &unr_; an arranging. ] (Physiol.) The property possessed by living protoplasm of contracting, and thus moving, when touched by a solid or fluid substance.

☞ When the movement is away from the touching body, it is negative thigmotaxis; when towards it, positive thigmotaxis. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]