Chapter Diastem to Diclinous of D by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

1. (Bot.) One of the Diatomaceæ, a family of minute unicellular Algæ having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, each individual multiplying by spontaneous division. By some authors diatoms are called Bacillariæ, but this word is not in general use.

2. A particle or atom endowed with the vital principle.

The individual is nothing. He is no more than the diatom, the bit of protoplasm.

Mrs. E. Lynn Linton.

Diatomic
(Di`a*tom"ic) a. [Pref. di- + atomic.] (Chem.) (a) Containing two atoms. (b) Having two replaceable atoms or radicals.

Diatomous
(Di*at"o*mous) a. [Gr. dia`tomos cut through, fr. diate`mnein to cut through; dia` through + te`mnein to cut. Cf. Diatom.] (Min.) Having a single, distinct, diagonal cleavage; — said of crystals. Mohs.

Diatonic
(Di`a*ton"ic) a. [L. diatonicus, diatonus, Gr. fr. to stretch out; dia` through + to stretch: cf. F. diatonique. See Tone.] (Mus.) Pertaining to the scale of eight tones, the eighth of which is the octave of the first.

Diatonic scale (Mus.), a scale consisting of eight sounds with seven intervals, of which two are semitones and five are whole tones; a modern major or minor scale, as distinguished from the chromatic scale.

Diatonically
(Di`a*ton"ic*al*ly) adv. In a diatonic manner.

Diatribe
(Di"a*tribe) n. [L. diatriba a learned discussion, Gr. prop., a wearing away of time, fr. to rub away, spend time; dia` through + to rub: cf. L. terere, F. trite: cf. F. diatribe.] A prolonged or exhaustive discussion; especially, an acrimonious or invective harangue; a strain of abusive or railing language; a philippic.

The ephemeral diatribe of a faction.

John Morley.

Diatribist
(Di*at"ri*bist) n. One who makes a diatribe or diatribes.

Diatryma
(||Di`a*try"ma) n. [NL., from Gr. dia` through + hole.] (Paleon.) An extinct eocene bird from New Mexico, larger than the ostrich.

Diazeuctic
(Di`a*zeuc"tic Di`a*zeu"tic) a. [Gr. disjunctive, fr. to disjoin; dia` through, asunder + to join, yoke.] (Anc. Mus.) Disjoining two fourths; as, the diazeutic tone, which, like that from F to G in modern music, lay between two fourths, and, being joined to either, made a fifth. [Obs.]

Diazo-
(Di*az"o-) [Pref. di- + azo-] (Chem.) A combining form meaning pertaining to, or derived from, a series of compounds containing a radical of two nitrogen atoms, united usually to an aromatic radical; as, diazo-benzene, C₆H₅.N₂.OH.

Diazo compounds are in general unstable, but are of great importance in recent organic chemistry. They are obtained by a partial reduction of the salts of certain amido compounds.

Diazo reactions (Chem.), a series of reactions whereby diazo compounds are employed in substitution. These reactions are of great importance in organic chemistry.

Diazotize
(Di*az"o*tize) v. t. (Chem.) To subject to such reactions or processes that diazo compounds, or their derivatives, shall be produced by chemical exchange or substitution.

Dib
(Dib) v. i. To dip. [Prov. Eng.] Walton.

Dib
(Dib), n.