Dip of the horizon (Astron.), the angular depression of the seen or visible horizon below the true or natural horizon; the angle at the eye of an observer between a horizontal line and a tangent drawn from the eye to the surface of the ocean. -- Dip of the needle, or Magnetic dip, the angle formed, in a vertical plane, by a freely suspended magnetic needle, or the line of magnetic force, with a horizontal line; -- called also inclination. -- Dip of a stratum (Geol.), its greatest angle of inclination to the horizon, or that of a line perpendicular to its direction or strike; -- called also the pitch.
Di*pas"chal (?), a. [Pref. di- + paschal.] Including two passovers. Carpenter.
Dip"chick` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Dabchick.
Di*pet"al*ous (?), a. [Pref. di- + petalous.] (Bot.) Having two petals; two- petaled.
Di*phe"nyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + phenyl.] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance, C6H5.C6H5, obtained by leading benzene through a heated iron tube. It consists of two benzene or phenyl radicals united.
Diph*the"ri*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; leather (hence taken in the sense of membrane): cf. &?; to make soft, L. depsere to knead.] (Med.) A very dangerous contagious disease in which the air passages, and especially the throat, become coated with a false membrane, produced by the solidification of an inflammatory exudation. Cf. Group.
{ Diph*the"ri*al (?), Diph*ther"ic (?), } a. Relating to diphtheria; diphtheritic.
Diph`the*rit"ic (?), a. (Med.) 1. Pertaining to, or connected with, diphtheria.
2. Having characteristics resembling those of diphtheria; as, diphtheritic inflammation of the bladder.
Diph"thong (?; 115, 277), n. [L. diphthongus, Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; voice, sound, fr. &?; to utter a sound: cf. F. diphthongue.] (Orthoëpy) (a) A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; -- called a proper diphthong. (b) A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain, eo in people; -- called an improper diphthong.