Glossary

Terms starting with C

678 definitions · page 9 of 12.

Config.SYS · Computer
The configuration file for DOS systems. Whenever a DOS computer boots up, it reads the CONFIG.SYS file (if it exists) and executes any commands in it. The most common commands are BUFFERS= and FILES=, which enable you to specify the buffer size and the…
Confinement · Particle Adventure
The property of the strong interaction that quarks or gluons are never found separately but only inside color-neutral composite objects.
CONFORMITY · Real Estate
The appraisal principle that holds that the greater the similarity among properties in an area, the better they will hold their value.
CONGESTION · Energy
A condition that occurs when insufficient transfer capacity is available to implement all of the preferred schedules simultaneously.
CONGESTION MANAGEMENT · Energy
Alleviation of congestion by the ISO.
conjugation · Genetics
A process whereby two cells come in contact and exchange genetic material. In prokaryotes the transfer is a one-way process. The union of two bacterial cells, during which chromosomal material is transferred from the donor to the recipient cell. Conjugation…
conjunction · Astronomy
a time when two or more bodies appear close together in the sky
consanguineous · Genetics
Meaning between blood relatives ; usually refers to inbreeding or incestuous matings.
consensus sequence · Genetics
A sequence of nucleotides or amino acids in common between regions of homology in different but related DNA or RNA or protein sequences.
CONSERVATION · Energy
Steps taken to cause less energy to be used than would otherwise be the case. These steps may involve improved efficiency, avoidance of waste, reduced consumption, etc. They may involve installing equipment (such as a computer to ensure efficient energy…
Conservation · Particle Adventure
When a quantity is always the same before and after a particle reaction, it is said to be conserved. Such quantities include electric charge, energy, and momentum.
conservative replication · Genetics
A postulated mode of DNA replication in which an intact double helix acts as a template for a new double helix; known to be incorrect. A disproved model of DNA synthesis suggesting that one-half of the daughter DNA molecules should have both strands composed…
conserved sequence · Genetics
An invariant sequence found in different DNA or RNA or protein sequences.
CONSIDERATION · Real Estate
(1) That received by the grantor in exchange for his or her deed. (2) Something of value that induces a person to enter into a contract.
constant region · Genetics
A region of an antibody molecule that is nearly identical with the corresponding regions of antibodies of different specificities.
constellation · Astronomy
one of the 88 patterns of stars in the sky, often named for a mythological god, hero, or animal
constitutive · Genetics
Always expressed in an unregulated fashion (when referring to gene control).
constitutive heterochromatin · Genetics
Heterochromatin that surrounds the centromere. Specific regions of heterochromatin always present and in both homologs of a chromosome. See satellite DNA.
constitutive mutation · Genetics
A mutation which causes transcription to be no longer under regulatory control.
CONSTRUCTIVE EVICTION · Real Estate
Actions of a landlord that so materially disturb or impair a tenant's enjoyment of the leased premises that the tenant is effectively forced to move out and terminate the lease without liability for any further rent.
CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE · Real Estate
Notice given to the world by recorded documents. All people are charged with knowledge of such documents and their contents, whether or not they have actually examined them. Possession of property is also considered constructive notice that the person in…
CONTINENTAL SHELF · Energy
The portion of the sea bottom that slopes gradually from the edge of a continent. Usually defined as areas where water is less than 200 meters or 600 feet deep.
CONTINGENCY · Real Estate
A provision in a contract that requires a certain act to be done or a certain event to occur before the contract becomes binding.
CONTINGENCY PLANNING · Energy
The Energy Commission's strategy to respond to impending energy emergencies such as curtailment or shortage of fuel or power because of natural disasters or the result of human or political causes, or a clear threat to public health, safety or welfare. The…
CONTINGENT LIABILITY · Insurance
Liability of individuals, corporations, or partnerships for accidents caused by people other than employees for whose acts or omissions the corporations or partnerships are responsible.
Continuous Play · Electronics
With the continuous play feature, when the cassette ends in one deck, playback of the other cassette begins. Dual cassette decks will play two tapes in a series.
continuous replication · Genetics
The uninterrupted replication of DNA in the 5' to 3' direction using a 3' to 5' template.
continuous variation · Genetics
Variation measured on a continuum rather than in discrete units or categories (eg height in human beings).
CONTRACT · Real Estate
A legally enforceable promise or set of promises that must be performed and for which, if a breach of the promise occurs, the law provides a remedy. A contract may be either unilateral, by which only one party is bound to act, or bilateral, by which all…
Contract Employee · Jobs
This is what an employee is called when he or she is hired you out by the employer to another, similar organization. A contract employee is usually hired on a daily basis or for the length of a particular project.
Contract of Employment · Jobs
An agreement between an employer and an employee. A contract of employment is enforceable by law and sets out the conditions and terms under which the employee is hired. Salary, benefits, working hours, etc., should all be outlined in the contract. Sometimes…
CONTRACT PATH · Energy
The most direct physical transmission tie between two interconnected entities. When utility systems interchange power, the transfer is presumed to take place across the "contract path," notwithstanding the electrical fact that power flow in the network will…
CONTRACTS FOR DIFFERENCES (CFD) · Energy
A type of bilateral contract where the electric generation seller is paid a fixed amount over time which is a combination of the short-term market price and an adjustment with the purchaser for the difference. For example, a generator may sell a distribution…
Contrast Ratio · Computer
Is a method of measuring a dynamic range. The higher the contrast ratio, the more detailed the image will be. Blacks will be blacker, whites will be whiter, and particularly text on the image will be more vivid. A typical LCD monitor will have a contrast…
CONTRIBUTION · Real Estate
The appraisal principle that states that the value of any component of a property is what it gives to the value of the whole or what its absence detracts from that value.
CONTROL AREA · Energy
An electric power system, or a combination of electric power systems, to which a common automatic generation control (AGC) is applied to match the power output of generating units within the area to demand. The control area of the ISO is the state of…
Control Panel · Hosting
Control panel included in web hosting packages is an online web-based application that allows you to easily manage different aspects of your account. Most control panels will let you upload files, add email accounts, change contact information, set up…
Controller · Computer
A device that controls the transfer of data from a computer to a peripheral device and vice versa. For example, disk drives, display screens, keyboards, and printers all require controllers. In personal computers, the controllers are often single chips. When…
controlling element · Genetics
A term used by maize geneticists to indicate a mobile genetic element capable of producing an unstable mutant target gene; two types exist, the regulator and the receptor elements.
convection · Weather
transfer of heat by movement of air or water; specifically, rise of an air mass caused by warming over land or sea that often causes the formation of clouds.
CONVECTION · Energy
Transferring heat by moving air, or transferring heat by means of upward motion of particles of liquid or gas heat from beneath.
convection · Astronomy
the transfer of heat energy by moving currents of material
CONVENTIONAL GAS · Energy
Natural gas occurring in nature, as opposed to synthetic gas.
Conventional Memory · Computer
On DOS systems, conventional memory refers to the portion of memory that is available to standard DOS programs. DOS systems have an address space of 1MB (megabyte), but the top 384K (called high memory) is reserved for system use. This leaves 640K of…
CONVERSION · Energy
device or kit by which a conventional fuel vehicle is changed to an alternative fuel vehicle.
CONVERSION FUEL FACTOR · Energy
A number stating units of one system in corresponding values of another system.
Conversion rate · Internet
the percentage of visitors who take a desired action.
CONVERTED VEHICLE · Energy
a vehicle originally designed to operate on gasoline that has been modified or altered to run on an alternative fuel.
CONVERTER · Energy
Any technology that changes the potential energy in a fuel into a different from of energy such as heat or motion. The term also is used to mean an apparatus that changes the quantity or quality of electrical energy.
convertible collar · Fashion
A rolled collar that can be worn open or closed. Sewn directly to the neckline.
CONVEYANCE · Real Estate
A term used to refer to any document that transfers title to real property. The term is also used in describing the act of transferring.
Cookie · Hosting
A Cookie is a piece of data that is saved in the user's browser by the web server. It is used to customize user's browsing experience.
COOLING CAPACITY LATENT · Energy
Available refrigerating capacity of an air conditioning unit for removing latent heat from the space to be conditioned.
COOLING CAPACITY SENSIBLE · Energy
Available refrigerating capacity of an air conditioning unit for removing sensible heat from the space to be conditioned.
COOLING CAPACITY TOTAL · Energy
Available refrigerating capacity of an air conditioner for removing sensible heat and latent heat from the space to be conditioned.
COOLING CAPACITY, LATENT · Energy
Available refrigerating capacity of an air conditioning unit for removing latent heat from the space to be conditioned.
COOLING DEGREE DAY · Energy
A unit of measure that indicates how heavy the air conditioning needs are under certain weather conditions.
COOLING LOAD · Energy
The rate at which heat must be extracted from a space in order to maintain the desired temperature within the space.
COOLING LOAD TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE (CLTD) · Energy
A value used in cooling load calculations for the effective temperature difference (delta T) across a wall or ceiling, which accounts for the effect of radiant heat as well as the temperature difference.
COOLING TOWER · Energy
A device for evaporatively cooling water by contact with air.