Words Starting With "S"

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Semibreves

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A music term.<br><br>Semibreves (plural of the Latin term "semibrevis") are a type of note value in music notation. They are equivalent to two whole notes or four half notes.

Semicircle

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A semicircle is a half of a circle, open at one end and having its boundary consisting of an arc, its diameter, and the portion of the diameter on the opposite side of the arc.

Semicircles

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Semicircles refer to a half-circle, an arc that defines a portion of a circle with an angle of 180 degrees. It is equivalent to half a circle with a radius. Semicircles can be found in various mathematical and geometric contexts, often representing a segment of a circle.

Semicircular

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Having the shape of a semicircle; roughly half a circle.<br><br>Forming a half of a circle; encircling or curve like one half of a circle.<br><br>Half of a circle.

Semicolon

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A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark used to separate two independent clauses (i.e., complete sentences) that are closely related in meaning. It indicates a stronger break than a comma but a weaker break than a period, signifying that the two clauses are closely connected.<br><br>Example: I have a pet dog; it is very friendly.

Semicolons

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A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark used to separate two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning. It's like a stronger comma, indicating a closer connection between the two clauses than a period would. A semicolon can be used to show that the two clauses are:<br><br>1. Independent clauses with a subject and a verb, and they could stand alone as complete sentences.<br>2. Emphasizing a contrast or a connection between the two clauses.<br>3. Separating items in a list when those items already contain commas.<br><br>For example:<br><br>I have visited many countries; Italy is my favorite. (Here, the two clauses are independent, but closely related.)<br>I have visited many cities in my lifetime; Paris, Rome, and Barcelona were my favorite destinations. (Here, the semicolon separates two independent clauses, and the semicolon indicates that the three cities are closely related in meaning.)<br><br>In general, the semicolon is used to show that the two clauses are closely connected, but each clause can stand alone as a full sentence.

Semicomatose

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Semicomatose refers to a state of consciousness that is intermediate between coma and consciousness, characterized by a reduced level of consciousness and responsiveness, but not as deep as a full-fledged coma. A person in a semicomatose state may be able to respond to their environment and stimuli, but their responses are often confused, disorganized, or vague.<br><br>For example, a person who has suffered a head injury or a severe medicine overdose may enter into a semicomatose state, in which they are difficult to arouse, have slurred speech, and may look disoriented. They may also experience disorganized thinking, hallucinations, or memory loss.<br><br>The term "semicomatose" comes from the Greek words "hemi" (half) and "komatos" (unconscious), indicating an intermediate state of unconsciousness.

Semiconducting

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Conducting electricity slightly, but not well enough to be classified as a conductor; neither a good conductor nor a good insulator.

Semiconductor

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A semiconductor is a material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. This property makes semiconductors useful for the creation of devices such as transistors, solar cells, microchips, diodes, and many other electronic devices. <br><br>Semiconductors have a small amount of conductivity due to the presence of impurities or defects in the material. This allows them to control the flow of electrical current and are therefore used to amplify or switch electronic signals. <br><br>Semiconductors are typically made from silicon, which can be n-type (negative charge carriers present) or p-type (positive charge carriers present) depending on the chemicals used during their creation.

Semiconductors

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Semiconductors are materials that exhibit electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. They have electrical conductivity higher than an electrical insulator, but lower than a conductor. The most common semiconductors are materials with a conductivity enhancement by doping the semiconductor material.<br><br>Semiconductors are fundamental components in many modern technologies, including:<br><br> Electronics systems<br> Computing devices<br> Consumer appliances<br> Medical devices<br> Renewable energy systems

Semiconscious

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Being in a state of partial consciousness, meaning you are aware of your surroundings to some extent, but not fully awake, alert, or aware of everything as you would be in a fully conscious state. You might be partially awake, disoriented, or drowsy, but can still respond to external stimuli to some degree.

Semicontinuous

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Semicontinuous refers to something that is partly continuous, but not entirely so. It involves a mixture of continuous and discontinuous elements or aspects, where there are some breaks or interruptions, but not a complete separation.<br><br>In other words, semicontinuous implies a degree of continuity, but with some exceptions, interruptions, or gaps. This concept is used in various fields, including physics, mathematics, and music, among others.<br><br>Examples:<br><br> A semicontinuous distribution of a material is one that has some gaps or imperfections, even if it is mostly continuous.<br> A semicontinuous melody is one that has some breaks or sections in it, but still has a sense of continuity.<br><br>Overall, semicontinuous suggests a nuanced understanding of continuity, where something is not entirely each way, but rather existing somewhere in between.

Semicupium

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Semicupium is a rare or obsolete word that refers to a type of half-stamped or half-coined money, especially in ancient Rome.

Semidetached

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A semidetached house is a type of house that is connected to another house by a common wall, but is structurally separate from it.

Semiditone

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A musical term! <br><br>A semiditone (or semitone) is the smallest unit of measurement in music. It is the interval produced by a frequency ratio of 1:2^1/12, or approximately 1/2 of a whole tone. In other words, it is a half-division of a whole tone.<br><br>For example, if you play a note C, moving up a semitone would bring you to a note C#, and moving up another semitone would bring you to a note D.

Semidiurnal

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Half-day or half-duration or half-frequency. Relating to something that occurs twice in a 24-hour period.

Semiellipse

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A semiellipse is half of an ellipse, consisting of a closed curve that is symmetrical about a vertical or horizontal axis. It is formed by a plane that intersects a full ellipse, effectively cutting it in half. The resulting shape is a curve that starts at one end point (the focus), extends out to a maximum width, and then curves back in towards the other end point (the focus), mirroring the shape of an ellipse.

Semiellipsoid

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A three-dimensional surface that is approximately half of an ellipsoid; specifically, a closed curve generated by a point on the surface of an ellipsoid as it moves in a circular path, with one end always approaching but never reaching the origin.

Semifinal

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A stage of competition that precedes the final round in a tournament, where the remaining contestants compete to advance to the final.

Semifinalist

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A person or a team that has made it to the stage of competition just before the final round or the last qualifying round, especially in sports or other competitive activities, but has not yet reached the final or has not yet been eliminated.

Semifinalists

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Candidates remaining in the semifinal stage of a competition, contest, or sporting event; those who have reached one of the last stages before the final round.

Semifinals

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The semifinals are the stage of competition that precedes a final round, in which the remaining contestants or teams compete to advance to the final competition.

Semifreddo

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Semifreddo is an Italian dessert made from a mixture of whipped cream, sugar, and flavorings, such as coffee, fruit purees, or liqueurs. Unlike gelato, semifreddo is not churned, so it has a mousse-like consistency and a lighter texture.

Semigallia

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Semigallia is a historical region in northern Latvia, situated in the western part of the country, bordering the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. It corresponds to the northwestern part of Present-day Latvia.<br><br>Semigallia was inhabited by the Semigallian people, a subgroup of the Baltic Prussians, before it was conquered by the Livonian Order in the 13th century. The region's name comes from the Semigallian word "žemai", which means "low" or "flat", likely referring to the coastal lowlands.<br><br>In the modern era, Semigallia has been part of Latvia since the country gained independence from Russia in 1918. Today, the region is home to several cities, including Liepāja, Jelgava, and Bauska.

Semiglutin

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A semi-glutin (also known as semiglutin or semigluteneous wheat) refers to a type of flour that contains a mixture of two types of wheat proteins: glutenin and gliadin. This type of wheat flour is often used in baking products such as bread, pasta, and baked goods because it has a good balance of elasticity and strength due to the combined properties of the two proteins.<br><br>Glutenin is the more elastic protein in the wheat flour, which is essential for giving bread its chewiness and elasticity. Gliadin, on the other hand, is a more soluble protein that provides strength and structure to the dough.<br><br>The term "semiglutin" specifically refers to a type of wheat flour that contains a balanced mixture of both glutenin and gliadin, making it suitable for a wide range of baking applications.

Semilinear

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Semilinear refers to a type of mathematical object or structure that is almost, but not quite, linear. In algebra and geometry, a semilinear object often has some properties that are similar to those of a linear object, but with a certain degree of non-linearity.<br><br>In more general terms, semilinear can also refer to anything that is intermediate between linearity and non-linearity. For example, a semilinear relationship between two variables might be a relationship that is almost perfectly linear, but with a small degree of non-linearity.<br><br>The term semilinear is often used in the context of semilinear equations, semilinear maps, and semilinear transformations. In analysis and physics, semilinear systems are used to model complex phenomena that cannot be described by purely linear equations.

Semillon

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Semillon is a type of white grape variety used in the production of white wines, particularly in Bordeaux, France, and the Hunter Valley in Australia. It is known for its distinctive flavor profiles, which typically include notes of citrus, honey, and stone fruits, with a hint of oak. Semillon wines can range from dry to sweet and are often used in blends, adding complexity and aging potential to the final product.

Semilobar

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The word "semilobar" is an adjective. It is derived from the Latin prefix "semi-" meaning "half" and "lobar" meaning "lobe". In anatomy, semilobar refers to something that is of the nature of a half- or partial lobe.

Semilor

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I couldn't find any information on the word "semilor." It's possible that it's a misspelling or a word that is not recognized in a standard dictionary.

Semilunar

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Semi-lunar refers to something that is shaped like a half-moon or crescent.

Semilunate

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Having or forming a semilunate shape, typically a curved and crescent-shaped part or structure.<br><br>Example: The semilunate bone in the human wrist.

Semimembranosis

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Semimembranosis refers to a type of pleural thickening, which is an abnormal thickening of the pleura that surrounds the lungs. It is characterized by the presence of a semi-membranous layer of fibrous tissue, leading to the aberrant thickening of the pleural space.<br><br>In medical terms, semimembranosis often results from inflammation or infection of the pleura, such as pneumococcal pleurisy.

Semimembranosus

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The semimembranosus is a muscle in the posterior thigh region. It is one of the three hamstring muscles and plays a key role in knee flexion and hip extension.<br><br>It originates from the ischial tuberosity and inserts into the medial aspect of the tibia, below the adductor magnus. When the semimembranosus muscle contracts, it helps to flex the knee, extend the hip, and rotate the leg inward.<br><br>The semimembranosus is one of the strongest muscles in the lower limb and is often targeted in exercises such as deadlifts, lunges, and squats.

Semimembranous

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Literally "half-membranous", a term used to describe a part of an organ or tissue that is partially composed of a thin layer of tissue called connective tissue, specifically a type of fibrous tissue that forms a membrane or layer.

Semimetals

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Semimetals, also known as metalloids, are a group of elements that exhibit some properties of metals and some properties of nonmetals. They are typically found in a diagonal line on the periodic table, between the metals to their left and nonmetals to their right.<br><br>The six semimetals on the periodic table are:<br><br>1. Boron (B)<br>2. Silicon (Si)<br>3. Germanium (Ge)<br>4. Arsenic (As)<br>5. Antimony (Sb)<br>6. Tellurium (Te)<br><br>Semimetals have some unique properties that distinguish them from metals and nonmetals. Some of these properties include:<br><br> Mix of electrical conductivity: Semimetals have a mix of electrical conductivity, being neither fully conductive nor insulating.<br> Metallic appearance: Semimetals can have a metallic appearance, but they are not as shiny as true metals.<br> Variable valency: Semimetals can have a variable valency, depending on the chemical reaction involved.<br> High thermal conductivity: Semimetals often have high thermal conductivity.<br><br>Semimetals are also known for their gap in the density of states at the Fermi level, which is a characteristic that distinguishes them from metals, which have a continuous density of states, and nonmetals, which have a gap in their density of states.

Seminal

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A word with a strong meaning!<br><br>"Seminal" can have two related meanings:<br><br>1. <strong>Influential or pioneering</strong>: A seminal idea, event, or work is a highly influential or pioneering one that has a significant impact on a particular field, industry, or way of thinking. For example: "The book was a seminal work in the history of science fiction."<br>2. <strong>Of or related to the seed or semen</strong>: Most notably in the context of biology or reproduction, seminal refers to the seed or semen of a male, or to the reproductive system involved in fertilization. For example: "The seminal fluid played a crucial role in fertilizing the egg."