Oleander
(O`le*an"der) n. [F. oléandre (cf. It. oleandro, LL. lorandrum), prob. corrupted, under the
influence of laurus laurel, fr. L. rhododendron, Gr. rose + tree.] (Bot.) A beautiful evergreen shrub
of the Dogbane family, having clusters of fragrant red or white flowers. It is native of the East Indies,
but the red variety has become common in the south of Europe. Called also rosebay, rose laurel, and
South-sea rose.
Every part of the plant is dangerously poisonous, and death has occured from using its wood for skewers
in cooking meat.
Oleandrine
(O`le*an"drine) n. (Chem.) One of several alkaloids found in the leaves of the oleander.
Oleaster
(O`le*as"ter) n. [L., fr. olea olive tree. See Olive, Oil.] (Bot.) (a) The wild olive tree (Olea
Europea, var. sylvestris). (b) Any species of the genus Elæagus. See Eleagnus. The small silvery
berries of the common species (Elæagnus hortensis) are called Trebizond dates, and are made into cakes
by the Arabs.
Oleate
(O"le*ate) n. [Cf.F. oléate.] (Chem.) A salt of oleic acid. Some oleates, as the oleate of mercury,
are used in medicine by way of inunction.
Olecranal
(O*lec"ra*nal) a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the olecranon.
Olecranon
(O*lec"ra*non) n. [NL., fr. Gr. elbow + krani`on the head.] (Anat.) The large process at
the proximal end of the ulna which projects behind the articulation with the humerus and forms the bony
prominence of the elbow.
Olefiant
(O*le"fi*ant) a. [F. oléfiant, fr.L. oleum oil + -ficare (in comp.). Cf. -Fy.] (Chem.) Forming or
producing an oil; specifically, designating a colorless gaseous hydrocarbon called ethylene. [Archaic]
Olefine
(O"le*fine) n. [From Olefiant.] (Chem.) Olefiant gas, or ethylene; hence, by extension, any one
of the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons of which ethylene is a type. See Ethylene.
Oleic
(O"le*ic) a. [L. oleum oil: cf. F. oléique.] (Physiol.Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or contained
in, oil; as, oleic acid, an acid of the acrylic acid series found combined with glyceryl in the form of olein
in certain animal and vegetable fats and oils, such as sperm oil, olive oil, etc. At low temperatures the
acid is crystalline, but melts to an oily liquid above 14 C.
Oleiferous
(O`le*if`er*ous) a. [L. oleum oil + -ferous: cf.F. oléifére.] Producing oil; as, oleiferous seeds.
Olein
(O"le*in) n. [L. oleum oil: cf. F. oléine.] (Physiol. Chem.) A fat, liquid at ordinary temperatures,
but solidifying at temperatures below 0° C., found abundantly in both the animal and vegetable kingdoms
It dissolves solid fats, especially at 30-40° C. Chemically, olein is a glyceride of oleic acid; and, as three
molecules of the acid are united to one molecule of glyceryl to form the fat, it is technically known as
triolein. It is also called elain.
Olent
(O"lent) a. [L. olens, p. pr. of olere to smell.] Scented. [R.] R. Browning.
Oleograph
(O`le*o*graph) n. [L. oleum oil + -graph.]
1. (Chem.) The form or figure assumed by a drop of oil when placed upon water or some other liquid
with which it does not mix.
2. (Painting) A picture produced in oils by a process analogous to that of lithographic printing.
Oleomargarine
(O`le*o*mar"ga*rine) n. [L. oleum oil + E. margarine, margarin.] [Written also oleomargarin.]
