Lignoceric to Lilliputian
Lignoceric
(Lig`no*cer"ic) a. [L. lignum wood + cera wax.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an
acid of the formic acid series, found in the tar, wax, or paraffine obtained by distilling certain kinds of
wood, as the beech.
Lignone
(Lig"none`) n. (Bot.) See Lignin.
Lignose
(Lig*nose" Lig"nous) a. [L. lignosus, fr. lignum wood: cf. F. ligneux. Cf. Ligneous.] Ligneous.
[R.] Evelyn.
Lignose
(Lig"nose`) n.
1. (Bot.) See Lignin.
2. (Chem.) An explosive compound of wood fiber and nitroglycerin. See Nitroglycerin.
Lignum rhodium
(||Lig"num rho"di*um) (lig"num ro"di*um). [NL., fr. L. lignum wood + Gr. "ro`don a
rose.] (Bot.) The fragrant wood of several shrubs and trees, especially of species of Rhodorhiza from
the Canary Islands, and of the West Indian Amyris balsamifera.
Lignum-vitae
(||Lig"num-vi"tae) n. [L., wood of life; lignum wood + vita, genitive vitæ, life.] (Bot.) A tree
(Guaiacum officinale) found in the warm latitudes of America, from which the guaiacum of medicine
is procured. Its wood is very hard and heavy, and is used for various mechanical purposes, as for the
wheels of ships' blocks, cogs, bearings, and the like. See Guaiacum.
In New Zealand the Metrosideros buxifolia is called lignum-vitæ, and in Australia a species of Acacia.
The bastard lignum-vitæ is a West Indian tree (Sarcomphalus laurinus).
Ligroin
(Lig"ro*in) n. A trade name applied somewhat indefinitely to some of the volatile products obtained
in refining crude petroleum. It is a complex and variable mixture of several hydrocarbons, generally boils
below 170° Fahr., and is more inflammable than safe kerosene. It is used as a solvent, as a carburetant
for air gas, and for illumination in special lamps.
Ligsam
(Lig"sam) n. [Cf. D. liggen to lie, E. lie to be prostrate, and E. flotsam, jetsam, or ligan.]
Same as Ligan. Brande & C.
Ligula
(||Lig"u*la) n.; pl. L. Ligulæ (- le), E. Ligulas [L., a little tongue. See Ligule.]
1. (Bot.) See Ligule.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The central process, or front edge, of the labium of insects. It sometimes serves as a
tongue or proboscis, as in bees. [See Illust. under Labium, and Hymenoptera.] (b) A tongue-shaped
lobe of the parapodia of annelids. See Parapodium.
Ligulate
(Lig"u*late) Ligulated
(Lig"u*la`ted) a. [Cf. F. ligulé. See Ligule, and cf. Lingulate.]
1. (Bot.) Like a bandage, or strap; strap-shaped.
2. Composed of ligules.
Ligulate flower, a species of compound flower, the florets of which have their corollets flat, spreading
out toward the end, with the base only tubular.
Ligule
(Lig"ule) n. [L. ligula, lingula, little tongue, dim. of lingua tongue : cf. F. ligule.]
1. (Bot.) (a) The thin and scarious projection from the upper end of the sheath of a leaf of grass. (b)
A strap-shaped corolla of flowers of Compositæ.
