Nouns denoting substances

AFP

an abnormally large amount of this fetoprotein in the fetus can signal an abnormality of the neural tube (as spina bifida or anencephaly)

 

astrakhan

the fur of young lambs

 

transferrin

a globulin in blood plasma that carries iron

 

sand

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

 

marking ink

an indelible ink for marking clothes or linens etc.

 

immunoglobulin M

one of the five major classes of immunoglobulins; involved in fighting blood infections and in triggering production of immunoglobulin G

 

lath and plaster

a building material consisting of thin strips of wood that provide a foundation for a coat of plaster

 

phenylamine

oily poisonous liquid amine obtained from nitrobenzene and used to make dyes and plastics and medicines

 

basalt

the commonest type of solidified lava; a dense dark grey fine-grained igneous rock that is composed chiefly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene

 

vanadinite

a mineral consisting of chloride and vanadate of lead; a source of vanadium

 

driftwood

wood that is floating or that has been washed ashore

 

gum olibanum

an aromatic gum resin obtained from various Arabian or East African trees; formerly valued for worship and for embalming and fumigation

 

Tums

an antacid

 

ether

any of a class of organic compounds that have two hydrocarbon groups linked by an oxygen atom

 

acetaldol

unsaturated aldol

 

softener

a substance added to another to make it less hard

 

coagulator

an agent that produces coagulation

 

HCG

hormone produced early in pregnancy by the placenta; detection in the urine and serum is the basis for one kind of pregnancy test

 

earth wax

a waxy mineral that is a mixture of hydrocarbons and occurs in association with petroleum; some varieties are used in making ceresin and candles

 

samarskite

a complex black mineral occurring in pegmatites