cover fire, suppressive fire

Use of firepower that degrades the performance of an enemy force below the level needed to fulfill its mission on a battlefield. EXAMPLE: Gunners use…

borax

a crystalline borate mineral, or the primary compound within this mineral, (Na2H20B4O17), used as a pesticide, as a metal soldering flux, as a component of…

flux (metallurgy)

a chemical reducing agent, flowing agent, or purifying agent, often making molten metals easier to flow during smelting or welding. "The blacksmith sprinkled flux onto…

cancer

A disease in which malign tumours metastasize throghout the body. There are many types of cancer, including skin cancer, lung cancer, bone cancer and liver…

AIDS

A Terran disease whereby a human's immune system is compromised or destroyed; caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

velvet

A type of woven fabric with a dense even soft surface. "Velvet is woven on a special loom that weaves two thicknesses of the material…

good taste / bad taste

largely subjective set of preferences or criteria for seeking out or evaluating aesthetic experiences such as food, dress, art, and music. "If only the admiral's…

dysprosium

A chemical element of atomic number 66. A lanthanide, never found in nature unbound to another element. Useful in magnets, and in control rods in…

terbium

A chemical element of atomic number 65. A lanthanide, never found in nature unbound to another element. Used in solid-state devices and actuators, and used…

obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD

An anxiety disorder whose symptoms include obsessive, intrusive thoughts, often characterized by catastrophizing; and ritual acts (compulsions) that relieve anxiety related to the obsessions. People…