Ster*cu`li*a"ceous (?), a. [NL. Sterculia, the typical genus, fr. L.
Sterculius the deity that presided over manuring, from stercus dung. So
called because one of the original species is fetid.] (Bot.) Of or
pertaining to a natural order (Sterculiaceæ) of polypetalous exogenous
plants, mostly tropical. The cacao (Theobroma Cacao) is the most useful
plant of the order.
Stere (?), n. [F. stère, fr. Gr. &?; solid.] A unit of cubic measure in
the metric system, being a cubic meter, or kiloliter, and equal to 35.3
cubic feet, or nearly 1 cubic yards.
Stere (?), v. t. & i. To stir. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Stere, n. A rudder. See 5th Steer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Stere, n. Helmsman. See 6th Steer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
||Ster`el*min"tha (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. stereo`s solid + &?; a
||worm.] (Zoöl.) Same as Platyelminthes.
Ste"re*o- (?). [Gr. stereo`s solid. See Stare to gaze.] A combining
form meaning solid, hard, firm, as in stereo-chemistry, stereography.
Ste"re*o*bate (?), n. [Gr. stereo`s solid + &?; that treads or covers,
akin to &?; base; cf. F. stéréobate.] (Arch.) The lower part or
basement of a building or pedestal; -- used loosely for several
different forms of basement.
{ Ste`re*o-chem"ic (?), Ste`re*o-chem"ic*al (?), } a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or illustrating, the hypothetical space relations of
atoms in the molecule; as, a stereo-chemic formula.
Ste`re*o-chem"is*try (?), n. [Stereo- + chemistry.] (Chem.) Chemistry
considered with reference to the space relations of atoms.
Ste"re*o*chrome (?), n. Stereochromic picture.
Ste`re*o*chro"mic (?), a. Pertaining to the art of stereochromy;
produced by stereochromy. -- Ste`re*o*chro"mic*al*ly (#), adv.
Ste`re*och"ro*my (?), n. [Stereo- + Gr. chrw^ma color.] A style of
painting on plastered walls or stone, in which the colors are rendered
permanent by sprinklings of water, in which is mixed a proportion of
soluble glass (a silicate of soda).
Ste`re*o*e*lec"tric (?), a. [Stereo- + electric.] (Physics) Of or
pertaining to the generation of electricity by means of solid bodies
alone; as, a stereoelectric current is one obtained by means of solids,
without any liquid.
Ste"re*o*gram (?), n. [Stereo- + -gram.] A diagram or picture which
represents objects in such a way as to give the impression of relief or
solidity; also, a stereograph.
Ste"re*o*graph (?), n. [Stereo- + -graph.] Any picture, or pair of
pictures, prepared for exhibition in the stereoscope. Stereographs are
now commonly made by means of photography.
{ Ste`re*o*graph"ic (?), Ste`re*o*graph"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F.
stéréographique.] Made or done according to the rules of stereography;
delineated on a plane; as, a stereographic chart of the earth.
Stereographic projection (Geom.), a method of representing the sphere
in which the center of projection is taken in the surface of the
sphere, and the plane upon which the projection is made is at right
andles to the diameter passing through the center of projection.
Ste`re*o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv. In a stereographical manner; by
delineation on a plane.
Ste`re*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Stereo- + graphy: cf. F. stéréographie.] The
art of delineating the forms of solid bodies on a plane; a branch of
solid geometry which shows the construction of all solids which are
regularly defined.
By cutting pieces of cardboard, or other suitable material, in the
forms represented in the cut, folding them along the lines indicated,
and joining their edges, the five regular solids may be formed.
Ste`re*om"e*ter (?), n. [Stereo- + meter.] (Physics) 1. An instrument
for measuring the solid contents of a body, or the capacity of a
vessel; a volumenometer.
2. An instrument for determining the specific gravity of liquid bodies,
porous bodies, and powders, as well as solids.
{ Ste`re*o*met"ric (?), Ste`re*o*met"ric*al (?), } a. [Cf. F.
stéréométrique.] Of or pertaining to stereometry; performed or obtained
by stereometry. -- Ste`re*o*met"ric*al*ly, adv.
Ste`re*om"e*try (?), n. [Stereo- + -metry: cf. F. stéréométrie.] The
art of measuring and computing the cubical contents of bodies and
figures; -- distinguished from planimetry.
Ste`re*o*mon"o*scope (?), n. [Stereo- + mono- + -scope.] An instrument
with two lenses, by which an image of a single picture projected upon a
screen of ground glass is made to present an appearance of relief, and
may be viewed by several persons at once.
Ste"re*o*plasm (?), n. [Stereo- + Gr. &?; anything formed or molded.]
(Biol.) The solid or insoluble portion of the cell protoplasm. See
Hygroplasm.
Ste`re*op"ti*con (?), n. [NL. See Stereo-, and Optic.] An instrument,
consisting essentially of a magic lantern in which photographic
pictures are used, by which the image of a landscape, or any object,
may be thrown upon a screen in such a manner as to seem to stand out in
relief, so as to form a striking and accurate representation of the
object itself; also, a pair of magic lanterns for producing the effect
of dissolving views.
Ste"re*o*scope (?), n. [Stereo- + -scope.] An optical instrument for
giving to pictures the appearance of solid forms, as seen in nature. It
combines in one, through a bending of the rays of light, two pictures,
taken for the purpose from points of view a little way apart. It is
furnished with two eyeglasses, and by refraction or reflection the
pictures are superimposed, so as to appear as one to the observer.
In the reflecting stereoscope, the rays from the two pictures are
turned into the proper direction for stereoscopic vision by two plane
mirrors set at an angle with each other, and between the pictures. In
the lenticular stereoscope, the form in general use, the eyeglasses are
semilenses, or marginal portions of the same convex lenses, set with
their edges toward each other, so that they deflect the rays coming
from the picture so as to strike the eyes as if coming direct from an
intermediate point, where the two pictures are seen apparently as one.
{ Ste`re*o*scop"ic (?), Ste`re*o*scop"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining
to the stereoscope; characteristic of, or adapted to, the stereoscope;
as, a stereoscopic effect; the stereoscopic function of the eyeglasses;
stereoscopic views. -- Ste`re*o*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.
Ste`re*os"co*pist (?), n. One skilled in the use or construction of
stereoscopes.
<! p. 1412 !>
Ste`re*os"co*py (?), n. The art or science of using the stereoscope, or
of constructing the instrument or the views used with it.
Ste`re*o*stat"ic (?), a. [Stereo- + static.] (Civil. Engin.) Geostatic.
{ Ste`re*o*tom"ic (?), Ste`re*o*tom"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to
stereotomy; performed by stereotomy.
Ste`re*ot"o*my (?), n. [Stereo- + Gr. &?; to cut: cf. F. stéréotomie.]
The science or art of cutting solids into certain figures or sections,
as arches, and the like; especially, the art of stonecutting.
Ste"re*o*type (?), n. [Stereo- + -type: cf. F. stéréotype.] 1. A plate
forming an exact faximile of a page of type or of an engraving, used in
printing books, etc.; specifically, a plate with type-metal face, used
for printing.
A stereotype, or stereotypr plate, is made by setting movable type as
for ordinary printing; from these a cast is taken in plaster of Paris,
paper pulp, or the like, and upon this cast melted type metal is
poured, which, when hardened, makes a solid page or column, from which
the impression is taken as from type.
2. The art or process of making such plates, or of executing work by
means of them.
Stereotype block, a block, usually of wood, to which a stereotype plate
is attached while being used in printing.
Ste"re*o*type, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stereotyped (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Stereotyping (?).] [Cf. F. stéréotyper.] 1. To prepare for printing in
stereotype; to make the stereotype plates of; as, to stereotype the
Bible.