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    nanoparticles : particles in the size range of 10-9 to 10-7 m.
    nanotechnology :   fabrication of devices with atomic or molecular scale precision. Devices with minimum feature sizes less than 100 nanometers (nm) are considered to be products of nanotechnology; a nanometer (10-9 m) is the unit of length most appropriate for describing the size of a single molecule. The nanoscale marks the boundary between the classical and quantum mechanical worlds; thus, realization of nanotechnology promises to bring revolutionary capabilities.

geography : toponym

   Napa : This popular geographical name in California (valley, city, country, river, creek, slough, junction, springs) was first recorded in 1795 for large arroyo in the plain of Napa, so called for the Indians who formerly inhabited it. The meaning of the name Napa has never been satisfactorily explained; some competing Indian homophones of 'napa' are: 'grizzly bear' (Southern Patwin Indians), 'people, family' (Eastern and Central Pomo Indians), and 'near mother, motherland' (Suisun Patwin Indians). It is quite certain that the geographical term originated in Northern Patwin territory.

acronym

   NASA : National Aeronautics and Space Administration : the agency responsible for the public space program of the USA, established in 1958; it is also responsible for long-term civilian and military aerospace research.

acronym

   NATO : North Atlantic Treaty Organisation : an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949 with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium; its other official name is the French equivalent, l'Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique du Nord (OTAN).  

botany & gardening

   nectar : the sweetish liquid in many flowers, used by bees for the making of honey

botany & gardening

   nectary : the part or organ of a flower that secretes nectar.

acronym

   NEMS : nanoelectromechanical system; a generic term to describe nano scale electrical/mechanical devices.
    neologism : a newly coined word or phrase, to apply to new concepts or to synthesize pre-existing concepts, to update and rectify older terminology; also a new meaning assigned to an existing word or phrase.

acronym

   NGDC : National Geographic Data Center (US)

materials

   nichrome : an alloy of nickel and chromium drawn into a wire of varying gauges; typically used as a heating wire

acronym

   NIOSH : National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US)

acronym

   NM : National Monument

acronym

   NOAA : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration : a federal agency within the US Department of Commerce, focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere. It plays several distinct roles : (1) a supplier of environmental information products; (2) a provider of environmental stewardship services; (3) a leader in applied scientific research on ecosystems, climate, weather and water, commerce and transportation.         http://www.noaa.gov

botany & gardening

   node : joint of a stem; that part of a stem or branch from which a leaf arises; roots form more readily at a node when taking cuttings.

botany & gardening

   nodule : a small, hard lump or swelling, knot or joint, on a stem or root.

acoustics & hearing

 noise : sound of a general random nature, the spectrum of which does not exhibit clearly defined frequency components; usually perceived as disagreeable or undesired sound or other disturbance.

acoustics & hearing

 noise, white : noise having a frequency spectrum that is continuous and uniform over a specified frequency band ( a flat frequency spectrum). White noise has equal pressure level per hertz over the specified frequency band.

geography : toponym

   Noyo (river, canyon, town, anchorage, seavalley in CA) : this was the name of a former Northen Pomo village near the mouth of Pudding Creek; the meaning was 'under the dust or ashes'. The name was later transferred to the river south of Fort Bragg.

acronym

   NP : National Park

acronym

   NTSC : National Television Standards Committee (US) : Standard broadcast signal received by televisions in the United States. All television broadcasts in the United States must meet this standard. If a device is designed for NTSC, it will most likely not work with other television standards such as PAL, which is the standard broadcast signal used in Europe. However, there are certain types of equipment that support both standards.

PAL

botany & gardening

   nut : a dry, hard, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit of any of various trees and bushes; the fruit consisting of a kernel, often edible, in a hard and woody or tough and leathery shell, more or less separable from the seed itself: walnuts, pecans, chestnuts, acorns, etc. 

acronym

 NWS : National Weather Service (US)
 
 

UPDATED : 2007-05-18

WEBSITE  EDITOR : Krešimir J. Adamić