Diodon
(Di"o*don) n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth: cf. F. diodon.]
1. (Zoöl.) A genus of spinose, plectognath fishes, having the teeth of each jaw united into a single beaklike
plate. They are able to inflate the body by taking in air or water, and, hence, are called globefishes,
swellfishes, etc. Called also porcupine fishes, and sea hedgehogs.
2. (Zoöl.) A genus of whales.
Diodont
(Di"o*dont) a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the genus Diodon. — n. A fish of the genus Diodon,
or an allied genus.
Diœcia
(||Di*œ"ci*a) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di = di`s twice + o'i^kos a house.]
1. (Bot.) A Linnæan class of plants having the stamens and pistils on different plants.
2. (Zoöl.) A subclass of gastropod mollusks in which the sexes are separate. It includes most of the
large marine species, like the conchs, cones, and cowries.
Diœcian
(Di*œ"cian Di*œ"cious) a. (Biol.) Having the sexes in two separate individuals; — applied to plants
in which the female flowers occur on one individual and the male flowers on another of the same species,
and to animals in which the ovum is produced by one individual and the sperm cell by another; — opposed
to monœcious.
Diœciously
(Di*œ"cious*ly), adv. (Biol.) In a diœcious manner.
Diœciously hermaphrodite (Bot.), having flowers structurally perfect, but practically diœcious, — those on
one plant producing no pollen, and those on another no ovules.
Diœciousness
(Di*œ"cious*ness), n. (Biol.) The state or quality of being diœcious.
Diœcism
(Di*œ"cism) n. (Biol.) The condition of being diœcious.
Diogenes
(Di*og"e*nes) n. A Greek Cynic philosopher (412?-323 B. C.) who lived much in Athens
and was distinguished for contempt of the common aims and conditions of life, and for sharp, caustic
sayings.
Diogenes' crab (Zoöl.), a species of terrestrial hermit crabs abundant in the West Indies and often destructive
to crops. — Diogenes' tub, the tub which the philosopher Diogenes is said to have carried about with
him as his house, in which he lived.
Dioicous
(Di*oi"cous) a. See Diœcious.
Diomedea
(||Di*om`e*de"a) n. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large sea birds, including the albatross. See
Albatross.
Dionæa
(||Di`o*næ"a) n. [NL., fr. Gr. a name of Aphrodite.] (Bot.) An insectivorous plant. See Venus's
flytrap.
Dionysian
(Di`o*ny"sian) a. Relating to Dionysius, a monk of the 6th century; as, the Dionysian, or Christian,
era.
Dionysian period, a period of 532 years, depending on the cycle of the sun, or 28 years, and the cycle
of the moon, or 19 years; — sometimes called the Greek paschal cycle, or Victorian period.
Diophantine
(Di`o*phan"tine) a. Originated or taught by Diophantus, the Greek writer on algebra.
