Glossary
Terms starting with S
401 definitions · page 1 of 7.
- S-Video Input Jack
- The 4-pin S-video input jack allows you to connect a DBS (Dolby Digital) system or DVD player directly to the luminance and chrominance circuits of the TV set. By keeping colour and luminance information separate, cross-colour interference is virtually…
- S/MIME
- Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions - a way of making email messages more secure. S/MIME uses digital certificates to attest the message origin and encryption to ensure that message could not be read while in transit.
- SACD
- Receivers that are DVD-Audio/SACD ready enable an outboard digital decoder to be added to the system. A receiver is considered "future compatible" if it offers 6.1 channel outputs that can be used with a DVD-Audio/SACD player.
- SAE VISCOSITY NUMBER
- A system established by the Society of Automotive Engineers for classifying crankcase oils and automotive transmission and differential lubricants according to their viscosities.
- Safe materials
- articles manufactured from or composed of materials that may not reasonably be expected to result, directly or indirectly in their becoming a component or affecting the characteristics of food.
- Saffron
- The most expensive spice in the world fortunately goes a long way! It's derived from the stigmas of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativa), which can only be picked by hand. It takes 250,000 stigmas to make just half a kilo of saffron. Saffron can be bought…
- Sage
- A general effect attributed to this herb is the promotion of wound healing. Has stimulating, rejuvenating and antiseptic properties.
- Sage
- Sage (Salvia officinalis) is native to the Mediterranean. The colour of the downy leaves and the flavour varies but, in essence, it's a very strong aromatic herb with a slight bitterness that can withstand long cooking times and still retain flavour. The…
- Sago
- Sago is a starch from the pith of the sago palm. It's processed into sago flour, slightly coarser sago meal or pearl sago - small grains similar to tapioca. It's used in baking, to make puddings or as a thickener for desserts.
- Salamander
- A salamander is a huge commercial grill that can be heated to very high temperatures. It's used by professional cooks for glazing, browning or caramelising savoury or sweet dishes.
- Salami
- Salami is the Italian name for a family of 'cut-and-keep' sausages made from a mixture of raw meat, such as pork, beef or veal and flavoured with spices and herbs. Innumerable varieties are made around the world. Salami can be salted, smoked or air-dried…
- Salary
- The monetary compensation offered to an employee in return for the services he provides. A salary is part of a 'compensation package'. The way in which as salary is determined differs depending on the company but can be based on an hourly, daily, weekly…
- Salary History
- Occasionally an employer will request a job seekers salary history. This tells the employer what level of compensation he can expect to offer you as well as the frequency of promotions you've earned. When compiling a salary history, always include the…
- Salary Negotiation
- The process during which job seekers attempt to negotiate the best possible compensation package available to them. Salary negotiation is based on the job seekers skills and experience as well as the going industry rate.
- Salary Requirement
- Some employers will ask you straight out for the figure you require in order to accept a position. If your salary expectation proves to be too high, you'll lose the chance of a job offer - too low and you'll be working for less than your true worth. Try…
- Salicylic Acid
- An antiseptic that helps dissolve the top layers of the skin.
- Salsa
- A spicy relish or dip served cold and made from chopped tomatoes, onions, chillies and peppers. 'Salsa' means 'sauce' in Spanish. Most supermarkets sell fresh salsa as well as mild or hot salsa in jars, but the flavour is never as good as homemade. It's easy…
- Salsify
- One of the lesser known root vegetables, salsify is also known as oyster plant because it tastes slightly of oysters. It has a beige-white skin and looks similar to a long carrot in shape. It can be used in a similar way to any other root vegetable: in…
- Salt
- Crystals of sodium chloride (NaCl) used as a seasoning and preservative. Salt is available as sea salt or rock salt. Sea salt is more highly prized than rock salt, which is mined from underground and needs to be further refined for cooking salt and table salt.
- Salt cod
- Salt cod is dried, salted cod. It looks pretty unappetising - a bit like a dried-up leather shoe - until it's rehydrated, after which it softens and tastes delicious when cooked. Salt cod is widely used in Mediterranean countries, particularly France, Italy…
- Saltimbocca
- A dish consisting of thin slices of veal or poultry, flavoured with fresh sage and topped with a slice of prosciutto, then sautéed in butter and olive oil and braised in white wine. The meat can be rolled and secured with toothpicks before cooking. The word…
- SALVAGE
- Damaged property an insurer takes over to reduce its loss after paying a claim. Insurers receive salvage rights over property on which they have paid claims, such as badly-damaged cars. Insurers that paid claims on cargoes lost at sea now have the right to…
- Sambuca
- A colourless Italian liqueur flavoured with aniseed. It's drunk with one or two coffee beans floating in the glass, and is usually flamed before it's served. Sambuca is very strong but has a sweetish taste. It is most often served as a digestif but can also…
- Samosa
- A deep-fried Indian pastry stuffed with spiced vegetables or meat, usually triangular in shape. Samosas can also be baked. Savoury samosas are more common, but sweet fillings can also be used.
- Samphire
- Marsh samphire (Salicornia europaea), also known as glasswort or pickle-plant, is a fleshy-leaved green plant that grows on seaside marshes. It has a sea-salty flavour and a crisp, interesting texture. Use it fresh in salads or serve it with fish, simply…
- sampling
- The capacity of a synthesizer to extrapolate from a single example a homogeneous timbre over a wide pitch range.
- Sangria
- A Spanish punch drink made with red wine, sliced fruit and fruit juices, sugar, soda water and sometimes a splash of brandy. This popular blood-red drink (from which its name derives) is served over ice and is great with tapas.
- Sarbanes Oxley Act
- The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, sometimes referred to as SOX, was a legislative attempt to respond to the accounting scandal caused by the recent fall of some publicly held companies and the perceived excesses of the management of some other companies…
- Sardine
- Sardines are baby pilchards. They're an oil-rich fish, usually sold whole, whether fresh, frozen or tinned. Bought fresh and whole, sardines are ideal fish for grilling and barbecuing. Cook them until the skin is crisp and charred and the flesh comes away…
- sarong skirt
- Long cloth which is wrapped around the entire body.
- Sashimi
- A Japanese dish of raw fresh fish and shellfish (without rice), beautifully presented and served with dipping sauces, vegetables and wasabi.
- Sassafras
- The sassafras tree is native to the eastern US. The dried, powdered leaves are called filé, which is an important ingredient in an authentic gumbo (a traditional Creole dish from Louisiana in the southern US). The root can be used to make sassafras tea and…
- Satay
- This is a South-east Asian speciality eaten across much of Indonesia (from where it originates), Thailand and Malaysia. Small pieces of marinated meat or fish are skewered on small wooden sticks and grilled or barbecued. Satay is usually served with spicy…
- satellite
- a small body that orbits a planet or asteroid
- Satin Finish
- Satin is a type of matte finish made by sandblasting, brushing with a stiff wire brush or chemically altering a shiny metallic surface. A satin finish has a soft, pearl-like luster instead of a bright polish.
- Savory
- The herbs summer savory (Satureja hortensis) and winter savory (S. montana) are both related to the mint family. Both are highly aromatic and can be used to season a variety of meat, poultry, egg dishes, soups or sauces. Both types of savory are particularly…
- SAW
- See Special Agricultural Worker glossary definition.
- scale
- An array of fixed, ordered pitches bounded by two notes an octave apart. The common Western scales contain seven notes; in non-Western cultures, scales may contain fewer or more than seven notes.
- Scallop
- An expensive but delicious shellfish with a delicate taste, available in a range of sizes. Scallops have two fan-shaped shells which contain rounds of firm white flesh. The edible orange coral (or roe) is sometimes left attached. Scallops can be bought in or…
- SCE
- The acronym for Southern California Edison Company an electric utility serving the southern California region.
- SCHEDULE
- A list of individual items or groups of items that are covered under one policy or a listing of specific benefits, charges, credits, assets or other defined items.
- Schedule "A" Occupations
- The Department of Labor (DOL) has given the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to approve labor certifications for these occupations. These occupations are physical therapists, professional nurses and people of exceptional ability in the…
- Schedule A Occupations
- The Department of Labor (DOL) has given the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to approve labor certifications for these occupations. These occupations are physical therapists, professional nurses and people of exceptional ability in the…
- SCHEDULING COORDINATOR
- Scheduling coordinators (SCs) submit balanced schedules and provide settlement-ready meter data to the ISO. Scheduling coordinators also:
- scherzo
- (Italian, "joke") A faster, often humorous transformation of a minuet, introduced into symphonies by Beethoven.
- Schmidt camera
- a catadioptric telescope used as a camera to take wide-angle photos of the sky
- Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
- a compact telescope in which light passes through a correcting lens at the front of the telescope, then reflects off a primary mirror back up to a secondary mirror, which directs the light through a hole in the primary and out the back of the scope; a…
- Scone
- A small round teacake made from a soft dough and cooked in a hot oven. Scones can be sweet or savoury. Sugar, fruit and spices are often added to sweet scones and they're often served with clotted cream and jam. Savoury scones might incorporate cheese, herbs…
- scoop neck round neck
- A low, U-shaped or round neckline.
- score
- The complete musical notation of a composition, especially for an ensemble; the individual parts are lined up vertically.
- scoring
- The process of orchestration.
- Scotch bonnet chillies
- A very small but very hot chilli, similar to the habanero. Scotch bonnets are frequently used in Caribbean cooking. They can be light green, yellow or red. After preparing chillies, it's important to avoid contact with the eyes or any sensitive skin - even…
- Scrag
- The scrag or scrag end is an inexpensive cut of lamb from the neck. It contains a lot of bone and is best used in casseroles, soups and stews.
- Screw-Back
- A screw-back is a vise-like clamp that holds a non-pierced earring on the ear by a screw that can be tightened against the earlobe.
- Scripting Language
- A programming language in which programs are the series of commands that are interpreted and then executed one by one. Doesn't require the compilation phase, for the price of lower performance.
- SDG&E
- The acronym for San Diego Gas & Electric an electric and natural gas utility serving the San Diego, California, region.
- SDTV Compatible
- Televisions that are SDTV (Standard TV) compatible enable you to hook up digital component video inputs (Y, Pr, Pb) to the unit for viewing of standard definition programming broadcast in either 480i or 480p formats. In order to view SDTV programming, the TV…
- SE (Seasonal Efficiency)
- a measure of the percentage of heat from the combustion of gas and from associated electrical equipment which is transferred to the space being heated during a year under specified conditions. California Code of Regulations, Section 2-1602(d)(11).
- Sea bream
- A firm-fleshed white fish. There are numerous species available, known by a variety of names, which can be confusing. Sea bream is sold whole or as fillets. It has succulent flesh that's ideal for grilling, baking and frying. Red snapper or sea bass make…
- Sealed Bid
- A method of sale utilized where confidential bids are submitted to be opened at a predetermined place and time. Not a true auction in that it does not allow for reaction from the competitive market place.