n. 1. 1 a family of birds consisting of the hawks; -- this family includes the Old World vultures; kites; harriers; and eagles.
Syn. -- family Accipitridae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. [ Pref. a- + stride. ] With one leg on each side, as a man when on horseback; with the legs stretched wide apart; astraddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Placed astride upon the bars of the palisade. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Glasses with horn bows sat astride on his nose. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. Bestrode (Obs. or R.) Bestrid p. p. Bestridden Bestrid, Bestrode; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestriding. ] [ AS. bestrīdan; pref. be- + strīdan to stride. ] 1. To stand or sit with anything between the legs, or with the legs astride; to stand over [ 1913 Webster ]

That horse that thou so often hast bestrid. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To step over; to stride over or across; as, to bestride a threshold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formerly cartrage, corrupted fr. F. cartouche. See Cartouch. ] (Mil.) A complete charge for a firearm, contained in, or held together by, a case, capsule, or shell of metal, pasteboard, or other material. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ball cartridge, a cartridge containing a projectile. --
Blank cartridge, a cartridge without a projectile. --
Center-fire cartridge, a cartridge in which the fulminate occupies an axial position usually in the center of the base of the capsule, instead of being contained in its rim. In the Prussian needle gun the fulminate is applied to the middle of the base of the bullet. --
Rim-fire cartridge, a cartridge in which the fulminate is contained in a rim surrounding its base. --
Cartridge bag, a bag of woolen cloth, to hold a charge for a cannon. --
Cartridge belt, a belt having pockets for cartridges. --
Cartridge box, a case, usually of leather, attached to a belt or strap, for holding cartridges. --
Cartridge paper. (a) A thick stout paper for inclosing cartridges. (b) A rough tinted paper used for covering walls, and also for making drawings upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

. See under Cartridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. clostridia 1. spindle-shaped bacterial cell esp. one swollen at the center by an endospore.
Syn. -- clostridia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. [ capitalized ] a genus of anaerobic, spore-forming motile bacteria of the family Bacillaceae, including several pathogenic species, such as the causative agents of gas gangrene (Clostridium perfringens), botulism (Clostridium botulinum), and tetanus (Clostridium tetani). [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. e'y^ well + &unr_; father. ] One well born, or of noble birth.

a. (Zool.) Pertaining or belonging to the Geometridæ. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of numerous genera and species of moths, of the family Geometridæ; -- so called because their larvæ (called loopers, measuring worms, spanworms, and inchworms) creep in a looping manner, as if measuring. Many of the species are injurious to agriculture, as the cankerworms. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A natural family of moths whose larvae are called measuring worms.
Syn. -- family Geometridae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A natural family of fish including the squirrelfishes and soldierfishes.
Syn. -- family Holocentridae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. member of a secret mounted band in the southern U. S. after the Civil War, which committed acts of intimidation and revenge.
Syn. -- night rider. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ fromNitrogen. ] (Chem.) A binary compound of nitrogen with a more metallic element or radical; as, boric nitride. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To surpass in speed of riding; to ride beyond or faster than. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A riding out; an excursion. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A place for riding out. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A summoner whose office is to cite men before the sheriff. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who rides out on horseback, beyond the main group, e. g., as a scout. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

3. A servant on horseback attending a carriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To surpass in striding. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To stride over or beyond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. partriche, pertriche, OF. pertris, perdriz, F. perdrix, L. perdix, -icis, fr. Gr. pe`rdix. ] (Zool.) 1. Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of the genus Perdix and several related genera of the family Perdicidæ, of the Old World. The partridge is noted as a game bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common European, or gray, partridge (Perdix cinerea) and the red-legged partridge (Caccabis rubra) of Southern Europe and Asia are well-known species. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging to Colinus, and allied genera. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Among them are the bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) of the Eastern States; the plumed, or mountain, partridge (Oreortyx pictus) of California; the Massena partridge (Cyrtonyx Montezumæ); and the California partridge (Callipepla Californica). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). [ New Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Bamboo partridge (Zool.), a spurred partridge of the genus Bambusicola. Several species are found in China and the East Indies. --
Night partridge (Zool.), the woodcock. [ Local, U.S. ] --
Painted partridge (Zool.), a francolin of South Africa (Francolinus pictus). --
Partridge berry. (Bot.) (a) The scarlet berry of a trailing american plant (Mitchella repens) of the order Rubiaceæ, having roundish evergreen leaves, and white fragrant flowers sometimes tinged with purple, growing in pairs with the ovaries united, and producing the berries which remain over winter; also, the plant itself. (b) The fruit of the creeping wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens); also, the plant itself. --
Partridge dove (Zool.) Same as Mountain witch, under Mountain. --
Partridge pea (Bot.), a yellow-flowered leguminous herb (Cassia Chamæcrista), common in sandy fields in the Eastern United States. --
Partridge shell (Zool.), a large marine univalve shell (Dolium perdix), having colors variegated like those of the partridge. --
Partridge wood (a) A variegated wood, much esteemed for cabinetwork. It is obtained from tropical America, and one source of it is said to be the leguminous tree Andira inermis. Called also pheasant wood. (b) A name sometimes given to the dark-colored and striated wood of some kind of palm, which is used for walking sticks and umbrella handles. --
Sea partridge (Zool.), an Asiatic sand partridge (Ammoperdix Bonhami); -- so called from its note. --
Snow partridge (Zool.), a large spurred partridge (Lerwa nivicola) which inhabits the high mountains of Asia; called also jermoonal. --
Spruce partridge. See under Spruce. --
Wood partridge, or
Hill partridge (Zool.), any small Asiatic partridge of the genus Arboricola. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who rides over a post road to carry the mails. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. putridus, fr. putrere to be rotten, fr. puter, or putris, rotten, fr. putere to stink, to be rotten: cf. F. putride. See Pus, Foul, a. ] 1. Tending to decomposition or decay; decomposed; rotten; -- said of animal or vegetable matter; as, putrid flesh. See Putrefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Indicating or proceeding from a decayed state of animal or vegetable matter; as, a putrid smell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Putrid fever (Med.), typhus fever; -- so called from the decomposing and offensive state of the discharges and diseased textures of the body. --
Putrid sore throat (Med.), a gangrenous inflammation of the fauces and pharynx. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. putridité. ] The quality of being putrid; putrefaction; rottenness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Putridity. Floyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quarterage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) The gilthead (Crenilabrus melops), a fish of the British coasts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Stride. ] A narrow passage between precipitous rocks or banks, which looks as if it might be crossed at a stride. [ Prov. Eng. ] Howitt. [ 1913 Webster ]

This striding place is called the Strid. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. Strode Obs. Strid ; p. p. Stridden Obs. Strid); p. pr. & vb. n. Striding. ] [ AS. strīdan to stride, to strive; akin to LG. striden, OFries. strīda to strive, D. strijden to strive, to contend, G. streiten, OHG. strītan; of uncertain origin. Cf. Straddle. ] 1. To walk with long steps, especially in a measured or pompous manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mars in the middle of the shining shield
Is graved, and strides along the liquid field. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To stand with the legs wide apart; to straddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To pass over at a step; to step over. “A debtor that not dares to stride a limit.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To straddle; to bestride. [ 1913 Webster ]

I mean to stride your steed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of stridding; a long step; the space measured by a long step; as, a masculine stride. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

God never meant that man should scale the heavens
By strides of human wisdom. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. stridens, -entis, p. pr. of stridere to make a grating or creaking noise. ] Characterized by harshness; grating; shrill. “A strident voice.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., from stridere to make any harsh, grating, or creaking sound. ] A harsh, shrill, or creaking noise. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Stridulous. ] To make a shrill, creaking noise; specifically (Zool.), to make a shrill or musical sound, such as is made by the males of many insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of stridulating. Specifically: (Zool.) (a) The act of making shrill sounds or musical notes by rubbing together certain hard parts, as is done by the males of many insects, especially by Orthoptera, such as crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts. (b) The noise itself. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The crickets stridulate by rubbing together the strong nervures of the fore wings. Many grasshoppers stridulate by rubbing the hind legs across strong nervures on the fore wings. The green grasshoppers and katydids stridulate by means of special organs at the base of the fore wings. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. ] That which stridulates. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stridulous; able to stridulate; used in stridulating; adapted for stridulation. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. stridulus. See Strident. ] Making a shrill, creaking sound. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Sarmatian boor driving his stridulous cart. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stridulous laryngitis (Med.), a form of croup, or laryngitis, in children, associated with dyspnoea, occurring usually at night, and marked by crowing or stridulous breathing. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., pl., a kind of oysters, fr. Gr. &unr_; eaten at three bites, &unr_; tri- + &unr_; to bite. ] (Zool.) A genus of very large marine bivalve shells found on the coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One species (Tridacna gigas) often weighs four or five hundred pounds, and is sometimes used for baptismal fonts. Called also paw shell, and fountain shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;: &unr_; (see Tri-) + &unr_; digit: cf. F. tridactyle. ] (Biol.) Having three fingers or toes, or composed of three movable parts attached to a common base. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) Tridactyl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The jacksnipe. [ Local, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. tride lively, quick. ] Short and ready; fleet; as, a tride pace; -- a term used by sportsmen. Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. tri- + Gr. &unr_; ten. So called from the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. ] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon, C13H28, of the methane series, which is a probable ingredient both of crude petroleum and of kerosene, and is produced artificially as a light colorless liquid. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. tri- + Gr. de`katos tenth. ] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, that acid of the fatty acids heterologous with tridecane. It is a white crystalline substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. tri-+ Gr. de`katos tenth + E. ethylene. ] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon, C13H26, of the ethylene series, corresponding to tridecane, and obtained from Burmah petroleum as a light colorless liquid; -- called also tridecylene, and tridecene. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tridens, -entis; tri- (see Tri-) + dens tooth: cf. F. trident. See Tooth. ] 1. (Class Myth.) A kind of scepter or spear with three prongs, -- the common attribute of Neptune. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Rom. Antiq.) A three-pronged spear or goad, used for urging horses; also, the weapon used by one class of gladiators. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A three-pronged fish spear. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Geom.) A curve of third order, having three infinite branches in one direction and a fourth infinite branch in the opposite direction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Trident bat (Zool.), an Asiatic rhinolophid bat (Triaenops Persicus), having the nose membrane in the shape of a trident. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. tridens. ] Having three teeth or prongs; tridentate. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ NL. tridentatus. See Trident. ] Having three teeth; three-toothed. Lee. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having three prongs; trident; tridentate; as, a tridented mace. [ R. ] Quarles. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. tridentifer; tridens trident + ferre to bear. ] Bearing a trident. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From L. Tridentum Trent. ] Of or pertaining to Trent, or the general church council held in that city. [ 1913 Webster ]