See Also: trepan(medicine)
trepan(1)(dictionary)
trepan(2)(dictionary)
trepan(3)(dictionary)
trepan(4)(dictionary)

uranium (oh) and trepan(1) (iou)


uranium (oh)



[Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Uranus; because the substance was discovered soon after the planet]
a heavy white metal that is radioactive and is used to produce nuclear power and nuclear weapons. It is a chemical element : symbol U

trepan(1) (iou)



trepan noun1. LME.
[medieval Latin trepanum from Greek trupanon borer, from trupan pierce, bore, trupe hole.]
Medicine. A surgical instrument in the form of a crown-saw, for cutting out small pieces of bone, esp. from the skull. Cf. TREPHINE noun 1. Now chiefly Hist. LME.
Mining. A borer for sinking shafts. L19.