Lycine
(Lyc"ine) n. (Chem.) A weak base identical with betaine; — so called because found in the
boxthorn See Betaine.
Lycoperdon
(||Ly`co*per"don) n. [NL., from Gr. wolf + to break wind.] (Bot.) A genus of fungi, remarkable
for the great quantity of spores, forming a fine dust, which is thrown out like smoke when the plant is
compressed or burst; puffball.
Lycopod
(Ly"co*pod) n. [Cf. F. lycopode.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Lycopodium.
Lycopode
(Ly"co*pode) n. [F.] Same as Lycopodium powder. See under Lycopodium.
Lycopodiaceous
(Ly`co*po`di*a"ceous) a. (Bot.) Belonging, or relating, to the Lycopodiaceæ, an order
of cryptogamous plants (called also club mosses) with branching stems, and small, crowded, one-nerved,
and usually pointed leaves.
Lycopodite
(Ly*cop"o*dite) n. (Paleon.) An old name for a fossil club moss.
Lycopodium
(Ly`co*po"di*um) n. [NL., from Gr. wolf + a foot.] (Bot.) A genus of mosslike plants, the
type of the order Lycopodiaceæ; club moss.
Lycopodium powder,
a fine powder or dust composed of the spores of Lycopodium, and other plants
of the order Lycopodiaceæ. It is highly inflammable, and is sometimes used in the manufacture of fireworks,
and the artificial representation of lightning.
Lycotropous
(Ly*cot"ro*pous) a. [Gr. hook + to turn.] (Bot.) Campylotropous.
Lyden
(Lyd"en) n. See Leden. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lydian
(Lyd"i*an) a. [L. Lydius, fr. Lydia, Gr. .] Of or pertaining to Lydia, a country of Asia Minor, or
to its inhabitants; hence, soft; effeminate; — said especially of one of the ancient Greek modes or keys,
the music in which was of a soft, pathetic, or voluptuous character.
Softly sweet in Lydian measures,
Soon he soothed his soul to pleasures.
Dryden. Lydian stone,
a flint slate used by the ancients to try gold and silver; a touchstone. See Basanite.
Lydine
(Lyd"ine) n. (Dyeing) A violet dye derived from aniline.
Lye
(Lye) n. [Written also lie and ley.] [AS. leáh; akin to D. loog, OHG. louga, G. lauge; cf. Icel. laug
a bath, a hot spring.] A strong caustic alkaline solution of potassium salts, obtained by leaching wood
ashes. It is much used in making soap, etc.
Lye
(Lye), n. (Railroad) A short side line, connected with the main line; a turn-out; a siding. [Eng.]
Lye
(Lye), n. A falsehood. [Obs.] See Lie.
Lyencephala
(||Ly`en*ceph"a*la) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. to loose + the brain.] (Zoöl.) A group of Mammalia,
including the marsupials and monotremes; — so called because the corpus callosum is rudimentary.
Lyencephalous
(Ly`en*ceph"a*lous) a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the Lyencephala.
Lyerman
(Ly"er*man) n. (Zoöl.) The cicada.
Lygodium
(Ly*go"di*um) n. [NL., fr. Gr. flexible; a willow twig + form.] (Bot.) A genus of ferns with
twining or climbing fronds, bearing stalked and variously-lobed divisions in pairs.