DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Se·rene a.
 1. Bright; clear; unabscured; as, a serene sky.
    The moon serene in glory mounts the sky.   --Pope.
 Full many a gem of purest ray serene
 The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear.   --Gray.
 2. Calm; placid; undisturbed; unruffled; as, a serene aspect; a serene soul.
 Note: ☞ In several countries of Europe, Serene is given as a tittle to princes and the members of their families; as, His Serene Highness.
 Drop serene. Med. See Amaurosis.

 am·au·ro·sis n.  Med. A loss or decay of sight as the result of a neurological disease, without any perceptible changes in the eye; -- called also gutta serena, the “drop serene” of Milton.
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 Drop n.
 1. The quantity of fluid which falls in one small spherical mass; a liquid globule; a minim; hence, also, the smallest easily measured portion of a fluid; a small quantity; as, a drop of water.
    With minute drops from off the eaves.   --Milton.
 As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
 That visit my sad heart.   -- Shak.
    That drop of peace divine.   --Keble.
 2. That which resembles, or that which hangs like, a liquid drop; as a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a chandelier, a sugarplum (sometimes medicated), or a kind of shot or slug.
 3. Arch. (a) Same as Gutta. (b) Any small pendent ornament.
 4. Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated position; also, a contrivance for lowering something; as: (a) A door or platform opening downward; a trap door; that part of the gallows on which a culprit stands when he is to be hanged; hence, the gallows itself. (b) A machine for lowering heavy weights, as packages, coal wagons, etc., to a ship's deck. (c) A contrivance for temporarily lowering a gas jet. (d) A curtain which drops or falls in front of the stage of a theater, etc.  (e) A drop press or drop hammer. (f) Mach. The distance of the axis of a shaft below the base of a hanger.
 5. pl. Any medicine the dose of which is measured by drops; as, lavender drops.
 6. Naut. The depth of a square sail; -- generally applied to the courses only.
 7. Act of dropping; sudden fall or descent.
 Ague drop, Black drop. See under Ague, Black.
 Drop by drop, in small successive quantities; in repeated portions. “Made to taste drop by drop more than the bitterness of death.” --Burke.
 Drop curtain. See Drop, n., 4. (d).
 Drop forging. Mech. (a) A forging made in dies by a drop hammer. (b) The process of making drop forgings.
 Drop hammer Mech., a hammer for forging, striking up metal, etc., the weight being raised by a strap or similar device, and then released to drop on the metal resting on an anvil or die.
 Drop kick Football, a kick given to the ball as it rebounds after having been dropped from the hands.
 Drop lake, a pigment obtained from Brazil wood. --Mollett.
 Drop letter, a letter to be delivered from the same office where posted.
 Drop press Mech., a drop hammer; sometimes, a dead-stroke hammer; -- also called drop.
 Drop scene, a drop curtain on which a scene is painted. See Drop, n., 4. (d).
 Drop seed. Bot. See the List under Glass.
 Drop serene. Med. See Amaurosis.