Glossary
Terms starting with E
323 definitions · page 1 of 6.
- E (exit site)
- Site on the ribosome through which tRNAs pass after they have donated their amino acid to the growing nascent polypeptide chain. ecdysone
- E-Business
- Using web and Internet technologies in conducting the business activities. Also expanding end enhancing traditional business practices by means of the Internet.
- E-mail Cover Letter
- A cover letter that is sent to employers by e-mail rather than through the conventional postal service.
- EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
- A system of measuring insurers’ financial stability set up by insurance industry regulators. An example is the Insurance Regulatory Information System (IRIS), which uses financial ratios to identify insurers in need of regulatory attention.
- EARNED PREMIUM
- The portion of premium that applies to the expired part of the policy period. Insurance premiums are payable in advance but the insurance company does not fully earn them until the policy period expires.
- EARNEST MONEY
- Money deposited by a buyer under the terms of a contract, to be forfeited if the buyer defaults but applied to the purchase price if the sale is closed.
- Earring Back
- An earring back is a disk or bead that fits over an earring post to hold the earring securely in place.
- Earring Jacket
- An earring jacket is an accessory designed to be worn with a stud as a decorative backdrop.
- EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE
- Covers a building and its contents, but includes a large percentage deductible on each. A special policy or endorsement exists because earthquakes are not covered by standard homeowners or most business policies.
- Eased
- A horse who stops running, having been taken up by his jockey.
- EASEMENT
- A right to use the land of another for a specific purpose, such as for a right-of-way or utilities; an incorporeal interest in land.
- EASEMENT BY CONDEMNATION
- An easement created by the government or government agency that has exercised its right under eminent domain.
- EASEMENT BY NECESSITY
- An easement allowed by law as necessary for the full enjoyment of a parcel of real estate; for example, a right of ingress and egress over a grantor's land.
- EASEMENT BY PRESCRIPTION
- An easement acquired by continuous, open and hostile use of the property for the period of time prescribed by state law.
- EASEMENT IN GROSS
- An easement that is not created for the benefit of any land owned by the owner of the easement but that attaches personally to the easement owner. For example, a right granted by Eleanor Franks to Joe Fish to use a portion of her property for the rest of his…
- Eau de framboise
- A raspberry spirit. Eau de framboise is often used in cooking to flavour sweet and savoury dishes. It can also be drunk as a digestif or aperitif.
- Eau de Parfum
- The most concentrated fragrance, usually more costly than eau de toilette because of its concentration.
- Eau de Toilette
- A less-concentrated fragrance.
- eccentric
- deviating from a circle (used to describe the shape of an orbit)
- eccentricity
- the extent to which a body’s elliptical orbit deviates from a circle
- ecdysone
- A moulting hormone in insects.
- Echinacea
- An oral homeopathic substance thought to boost the immune system. Frequently taken for cold or flu symptoms. Has anti-itching and soothing properties when used in skin-care products.
- eclipse
- an event in which one body passes in front of another, blocking it partially or completely from view; a specific type of occultation
- eclipsing binary
- a binary star with an orbital plane oriented so that one star passes in front of the other, thus completely or partially blocking the light from the other star during each orbital period
- ecliptic
- he plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun; all the planets except Mercury and Pluto have orbits in nearly the same plane
- ECOLOGY
- The study of interrelationships of animals and plants to one another and to their environment.
- ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
- A term that refers to the optimal production and consumption of goods and services. This generally occurs when prices of products and services reflect their marginal costs. Economic efficiency gains can be achieved through cost reduction, but it is better to…
- ECONOMIC LIFE
- The number of years during which an improvement will add value to the land.
- ECONOMIC LOSS
- Total financial loss resulting from the death or disability of a wage earner, or from the destruction of property. Includes the loss of earnings, medical expenses, funeral expenses, the cost of restoring or replacing property, and legal expenses. It does not…
- ECONOMIES OF SALE
- Economies of scale exist where the industry exhibits decreasing average long-run costs with size.
- ECONOMIZER AIR
- A ducting arrangement and automatic control system that allows a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to supply up to 100 percent outside air to satisfy cooling demands, even if additional mechanical cooling is required.
- ECONOMIZER WATER
- A system which uses either direct evaporative cooling, or a secondary evaporatively cooled water loop and cooling coil to satisfy cooling loads, even if additional mechanical cooling is required.
- ECONOMY ENERGY (Electricity utility)
- Electricity purchased by one utility from another to take the place of electricity that would have cost more to produce on the utility's own system.
- ECOSYSTEM
- The interacting system of biological community and its nonliving environment.
- ectopic expression
- The occurrence of gene expression in a tissue in which it is normally not expressed. Such ectopic expression can be caused by the juxtaposition of novel enhancer elements to a gene during genetic manipulation of transgenic organisms.
- ectopic integration
- In a transgenic organism, the insertion of an introduced gene (transgene) at a site other than its usual locus.
- Eczema
- A skin condition that causes areas of the skin to become red, itchy and scaly. The cause is unknown and it can affect any part of the body. The condition may be short-lived (acute) or long term (chronic), and is usually treated with topical anti-inflammatory…
- EDISON THOMAS ALVA
- The "father" of the American energy industry, Thomas Edison was an American inventor who was born in 1847 and died in 1931. He patented a total of 1,093 inventions - more than any other person in American history. Among the most important were the…
- EDISON, THOMAS ALVA
- The "father" of the American energy industry, Thomas Edison was an American inventor who was born in 1847 and died in 1931. He patented a total of 1,093 inventions - more than any other person in American history. Among the most important were the…
- Edwin Hubble
- Edwin Hubble was born in Marshfield, Missouri on November 20, 1889. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. His interests turned to astronomy around 1914, but he delayed his entry into the field to enlist in the U.S. Army…
- EEI
- Edison Electric Institute. An association of electric companies formed in 1933 "to exchange information on industry developments and to act as an advocate for utilities on subjects of national interest."
- EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)
- The ratio of cooling capacity of an air conditioning unit in Btus per hour to the total electrical input in watts under specified test conditions. [See California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Section 1602(c)(6)]
- EER - (Energy Efficiency Ratio)
- the ratio of cooling capacity of an air conditioning unit in Btus per hour to the total electrical input in watts under specified test conditions. California Code of Regulations, Section 1602(c)(6).
- EFFICACY LIGHTING
- The ratio of light from a lamp to the electrical power consumed, including ballast losses, expressed as lumens per watt. [See California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Section 2-5302]
- EFFICACY, LIGHTING
- The ratio of light from a lamp to the electrical power consumed, including ballast losses, expressed as lumens per watt. [See California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Section 2-5302]
- EFFICIENCY
- The ratio of the useful energy delivered by a dynamic system (such as a machine, engine, or motor) to the energy supplied to it over the same period or cycle of operation. The ratio is usually determined under specific test conditions.
- Egg wash
- Beaten raw egg, sometimes mixed with water and a little salt, used for glazing pastry or bread to give it a shine when baked. Useful for blind baking because it seals the pastry base, ensuring it won't absorb moisture, and also gives the pastry a good golden…
- Eggplant
- Another name for aubergine, probably resulting from the appearance of the egg-shaped, white-skinned variety. This term is more commonly used in the US.
- Eggs
- Eggs are a very versatile cooking ingredient. Hen’s eggs are the type of egg most frequently used in cooking. Duck eggs, gull eggs and quail eggs are less frequently used and are generally eaten on their own, rather than in baking. In baking, most recipes…
- EIA
- (Electronic Industries Association). An industry trade organization involved with definition of standards for electrical consumer products. It works jointly with the TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association).
- ejecta
- material thrown about by an impact or volcano
- Elastin
- A surface protective agent used in cosmetics to alleviate the effects of dry skin.
- ELCON
- Electricity Consumers Resources Council. ELCON is an association of 28 large industrial consumers of electricity. ELCON members account for over five percent of all electricity consumed in the United States. ELCON was formed in 1976 "to enable member…
- Electric Charge
- The quantum number that determines participation in electromagnetic interactions.
- ELECTRIC GENERATOR
- A device that converts a heat, chemical or mechanical energy into electricity.
- ELECTRIC RADIANT HEATING
- A heating system in which electric resistance is used to produce heat which radiates to nearby surfaces. There is no fan component to a radiant heating system.
- ELECTRIC RESISTANCE HEATER
- A device that produces heat through electric resistance. For example, an electric current is run through a wire coil with a relatively high electric resistance, thereby converting the electric energy into heat which can be transferred to the space by fans.
- ELECTRIC UTILITY
- Any person or state agency with a monopoly franchise (including any municipality), which sells electric energy to end-use customers; this term includes the Tennessee valley Authority, but does not include other Federal power marketing agency (from EPAct).
- ELECTRICITY
- A property of the basic particles of matter. A form of energy having magnetic, radiant and chemical effects. Electric current is created by a flow of charged particles (electrons).
- ELECTROLYSIS
- Breaking a chemical compound down into its elements by passing a direct current through it. Electrolysis of water, for example, produces hydrogen and oxygen.