Dictionary of Agriculture

284 Pages·2006·5.99 MB·English

by  Jane Russell

Dictionary of
Agriculture
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Dictionary of
Agriculture
third edition
A & C Black (cid:2) London
www.acblack.com
First published in Great Britain in 1990,reprinted 1994, 1995
Second edition published 1996, reprinted 1997, 1998
This third edition published 2006
A & C Black Publishers Ltd
38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HB
© A & C Black Publishers Ltd 2006
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any form or by any means without the permission of the publishers
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-10: 0 7136 7778 3
ISBN-13: 978 0 7136 7778 2
eISBN-13: 978-1-4081-0229-9
Text Production and Proofreading
Heather Bateman, Steve Curtis, Katy McAdam
This book is produced using paper that is made from wood grown in
managed, sustainable forests. It is natural, renewable and recyclable. The
logging and manufacturing processes conform to the environmental
regulations of the country of origin
Text typeset by A & C Black
Printed in Italy by Rotolito Lombarda
Preface
This dictionary provides a basic vocabulary of agricultural terms. It is ideal
for students of land management, environmental and veterinary sciences,
and is a handy reference for those working in the agriculture industries,
especially those for whom English is not a first language.
Each headword is explained in clear, straightforward English and quotations
from newspapers and specialist magazines show how the words are used in
context. There are also supplements including conversion tables forweights
and measures and a list of world commodity markets.
Thanks are due to Dr Mark Lyne, Department of Science, Agriculture and
Technology, Writtle College and to Dr Stephen Chadd, Course Director at
the Royal Agricultural College, for their help and advice during the
production of this new edition.
Pronunciation Guide
The following symbols have been used to show the pronunciation of the main
words in the dictionary.
Stress is indicated by a main stress mark ((cid:2)) and a secondary stress mark((cid:3)). Note
that these are only guides, as the stress of the word changes according to its position
in the sentence.
Vowels Consonants
(cid:4) back b buck
ɑ(cid:6) harm d dead
ɒ stop ð other
ai type d(cid:9) jump
aυ how f fare
aiə hire (cid:12) gold
aυə hour h head
ɔ(cid:6) course j yellow
ɔi annoy k cab
e head l leave
eə fair m mix
ei make n nil
eυ go ŋ sing
(cid:15)(cid:6) word p print
i(cid:6) keep r rest
i happy s save
ə about ʃ shop
i fit t take
iə near tʃ change
u annual θ theft
u(cid:6) pool v value
υ book w work
υə tour x loch
(cid:18) shut (cid:9) measure
z zone
Pronunciation is given only for technical entries. For a full guide to pronunciation
of all basic words and phrases, the A & C BlackEasier English Intermediate
Dictionary(0-7475-6989-4, £9.99) is recommended.
Agriculture.fm Page 1 Tuesday, July 11, 2006 12:33 PM
A
AAA A abbreviation Arboricultural Associa- aabomabsumomasum /(cid:2)(cid:3)bəυ(cid:6)meisəm/ noun the
tion fourth stomach of a ru|minant. (cid:2) omasum,
AAAPPAPP abbreviation Average All Pigs reticulum, rumen
Price aabortbort verb 1. to stop a process or the
AAAPSAPS abbreviation Arable Area development of something before it is
Payments Scheme finished, or to stop developing (cid:2) The
AAbandobnmenta of nAnimadls Aoct 19n60ment of Animals Act flowers abort and drop off in hot, dry
1960 noun an Act of Parliament which conditions, with no fruit developing. 2. to
made it an offence to leave an animal unat- end a pregnancy in an animal and prevent
tended if this was likely to cause distress or the birth of young 3. to give birth before
pain to the animal the usual end of a pregnancy (technical)
aabattboirattoir noun a place where animals are Also called miscarry
slaughtered and prepared for sale to the aabortbionortion noun a situation when a preg-
public as meat nancy in a farm animal ends prematurely,
aabdombendomen noun a space in the body situ- generally as the result of a disease or infec-
ated below or behind the diaphragm and tion (technical)
above or in front of the pelvis, containing aabreabst prarleourast parlour /ə(cid:6)brest (cid:2)pɑ(cid:5)lə/ noun a
the stomach, intestines, liver and other type of milking parlo| ur where the cows
vital organs stand side by side with their heads facing
AAberdeben Anegusrdeen Angus /(cid:2)(cid:3)bədi(cid:5)n (cid:6)(cid:3)ŋ(cid:8)əs/ away from the milker. (cid:2) herringbone
noun an early maturing breed of beef parlour, rotary parlour
cattle, which are naturally hornless and
aabscebssscess noun a painful swollen area
usually black all over. Aberdeen Angus
where pus forms
cattle usually have a rather small headed
and a long deep body. They are highly aabscibssiosn cission /(cid:3)b(cid:6)siʃ(ə)n/ noun the shed-
|
valued for quality beef. ding of a leaf or fruit due to the formation
aabiotbiciotic /(cid:2)eibai(cid:6)ɒtik/ adjective not of a layer of cells between the leaf or fruit
relating to a livin| g organism (cid:2) abiotic and the rest of the plant (NOTE: It occurs
factors naturally in autumn, e.g. leaf fall, or at any
aabiotbic sitroesstic stress noun stress caused by time of the year in response to stress.)
environmental factors such as drought or aabsorbb sorb verb to take something in (cid:2) Warm
extreme heat or cold, not by biological air absorbs moisture more easily than cold
factors air. (cid:2) Salt absorbs moisture from the air.
aabiotbic stireoss rtesiistcance stress resistance noun aabsorbptiosn orption noun 1. the process of taking
resistance in organisms to stress arising in water, dissolved minerals and other
from non-biological causes such as nutrients across cell membranes 2. the
drought taking into the body of substances such as
aabomabsal uolcermasal ulcer /(cid:2)(cid:3)bəυmeis(ə)l (cid:6)(cid:12)lsə/ proteins or fats which have been digested
noun a disease common in both calves and from food and enter the bloodstream from
adult cattle. Calves show poor growth and the stomach and intestines 3. the taking up
lose appetite. In rare cases, cows may bleed of one type of substance by another, e.g. of
to death. a liquid by a solid or of a gas by a liquid
Agriculture.fm Page 2 Tuesday, July 11, 2006 12:33 PM
abstract 2
aabstrbactstract /(cid:3)b(cid:6)str(cid:3)kt/ verb to remove /(cid:2)(cid:3)klə(cid:6)meiʃ(ə)n/ noun the process of
| |
water from a river so that it can be used by adapting to a different environment (NOTE:
industry, farmers or gardeners This process is known as acclimatisation
aabstrbactisontraction /(cid:3)b(cid:6)str(cid:3)kʃən/ noun 1. the if the changes occur naturally and accli-
removal of water |from a river or other mation if they are produced in laboratory
source for use by industry, farmers or conditions.)
gardeners 2. the removal of something COMMENT: When an organism such as a
such as gas, oil, mineral resources or gravel plant or animal is acclimatising, it is
from the ground adapting physically to different environ-
AAcaciacacia /ə(cid:6)keiʃə/ noun a species of tree mental conditions, such as changes in
| food supply, temperature or altitude.
often grown for its pretty leaves and blos-
soms aaccomcmodactiono landmmodation land noun land
AACAFCAF abbreviation Advisory Committee available for short-term tenancy
on Animal Feedingstuffs aaccrecditcredit /ə(cid:6)kredit/ verb to recognise
aacaricasisariasis /(cid:2)(cid:3)kə(cid:6)raiəsis/ noun a skin officially |
|
disease caused by ticks or mites aaccrecditecd herrdedited herd noun a herd of cattle
aacariccidearicide /ə(cid:6)k(cid:3)risaid/ noun a substance registered under a scheme as being free
|
used to kill mites and ticks. Also called from Brucellosis
acaridicide aaccrecditecd mirlkedited milk noun milk from a herd
aacaricdarid /(cid:6)(cid:3)kərid/ noun a small animal accredited as being free from Brucellosis
which feeds on plants or other animals by
aaccumculatced tuempermatureulated temperature noun the
piercing the outer skin and sucking juices,
number of hours during which the temper-
e.g. a mite or tick
ature is above a particular point, taken as
AAcaridca arida /ə|(cid:6)k(cid:3)ridə/ noun the order of the minimum temperature necessary for
animals including mites and ticks. Also growing a specific crop (NOTE: In the UK,
called Acarina this is usually taken to be the number of
aacaricdiciaderidicide /(cid:2)(cid:3)kə(cid:6)ridisaid/ noun same hours above 6°C.)
|
as acaricide aacercer /(cid:6)eisə/ noun a maple or sycamore
AAcarinca arina /(cid:2)(cid:3)kə|(cid:6)ri(cid:5)nə/ noun same as tree. Genus: Acer.
AAACAScCaAriSda /(cid:6)eik(cid:3)s/ abbreviation Advisory, aacetocnaemeiatonaemia /ə|(cid:2)si(cid:5)təυ|(cid:6)ni(cid:5)miə/ noun a
disease affecting cows, caused by ketone
Conciliation and Arbitration Service
bodies accumulating. The animal loses
AACCCC abbreviation Agricultural Credit appetite and the smell of acetone affects
Corporation the breath, the urine and milk.
aaccepctablce daeily ipntakteable daily intake noun the aacetocneetone noun a colourless liquid that has
quantity of a substance such as a nutrient,
a sweetish smell and is flammable, used as
vitamin, additive or pollutant which a
a solvent and in the manufacture of organic
person or animal can safely consume daily
chemicals. Formula: CH COCH.
over their lifetime. Abbr ADI 3 3
aachencehene /ə(cid:6)ki(cid:5)n/ noun a dry single-seeded
‘A UK wide consultation on the use of the |
colourant canthaxanthin in animal feed, fruit that does not split open (NOTE:
Achenes are produced by plants such as
used to give farmed salmon its pink
dandelions and sunflowers.)
colour, has been launched by the Food
Standards Agency. Brussels’ Scientific aacidcid noun 1. a chemical compound
Committee on Animal Nutrition said: containing hydrogen which dissolves in
“Some consumers of high levels of water and forms hydrogen ions, or reacts
produce from farmed fish were likely to with an alkali to form a salt and water, and
exceed the acceptable daily intake for turns litmus paper red 2. any bitter juice
canthaxanthin”.’ [TheGrocer] aacid cdepoisidtion deposition /(cid:2)(cid:3)sid (cid:2)depə(cid:6)ziʃ(ə)n/
|
aaccescscess noun 1. a place of entry, or the noun same as acid rain
right of entry, to somewhere 2. the right of aacid cgrasisldand grassland noun a type of vegeta-
the public to go onto uncultivated private tion that typically grows on soils that drain
land for recreation. (cid:2) Countryside and freely and are low in mineral nutrients, and
Rights of Way Act may also occur on post-industrial sites.
aacclicmaticsatilonimatisation /ə(cid:2)klaimətai The range of plant species found is small. (cid:2)
(cid:6)zeiʃ(ə)n/, acclimatization, a|cclimation| calcareous grassland
Agriculture.fm Page 3 Tuesday, July 11, 2006 12:33 PM
3 activated sludge
aacidiccidic adjective referring to acids (cid:2) acidic aacid csoilid soil noun soil which has a pH value
properties of 6 or less (NOTE: Farming tends to make
aacidicficaitidonification /ə(cid:2)sidifi(cid:6)keiʃ(ə)n/ noun the soil more acid, but most farm crops will
| | not grow well if the soil is very acid. This
the process of becoming acid or of making
can be cured by applying one of the mate-
a substance more acid (cid:2) Acidification of
rials commonly used for adding lime, such
the soil leads to the destruction of some
as ground chalk or limestone.)
living organisms.
aacidicfyidify /ə|(cid:6)sidifai/ verb to make a oAACOSnC OOrgSa naibcb Sretavniadtaiornd sAdvisory Committee
substance more acid, or to become more
acid (cid:2) Acid rain acidifies the soils and AACPCP abbreviation Advisory Committee
on Pesticides
waters where it falls. (cid:2) The sulphur
released from wetlands as sulphate causes AACPATCPAT abbreviation Association of Char-
lakes to acidify. (NOTE: Feed additives can tered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy
be used to acidify animals’ urine, which AACP stCatesP states /(cid:2)ei si(cid:5) (cid:6)pi(cid:5) (cid:2)steits/ (cid:3) Lomé
makes them less susceptible to infections Convention
of the urinary tract.) AACRCR abbreviation automatic cluster
aacidictyidity noun the proportion of acid in a removal
substance (cid:2) The alkaline solution may help aacrecre noun a unit of measurement of land
to reduce acidity. area, equal to 4840 square yards or 0.4047
COMMENT: Acidity and alkalinity are hectares
measured according to the pH scale. AACRECRE /(cid:6)eikə/ abbreviation Advisory
pH7 is neutral. Numbers above pH7 Committee on Releases to the Environ-
show alkalinity, while those below show ment
acidity. aacreacgereage /(cid:6)eikərid(cid:15)/ noun the area of a
aacidocphiliusd milkophilus milk /(cid:2)(cid:3)si(cid:6)dɒfiləs (cid:2)milk/ piece of land measured in acres
|
noun a cultured milk made from fresh milk aacreacge arlloetmenat ge allotment noun a quota
which is allowed to go sour in a controlled
system operated in the USA, which limits
way. One of the most popular types of
the area of land which can be planted with
acidophilus milk in Europe is yoghurt. a certain type of crop
aacidocsisidosis /(cid:2)(cid:3)si(cid:6)dəυsis/ noun an unusu- aacreacge rreduectioan prgogrameme reduction programme
|
ally high proportion of acid waste products noun an American federal programme
such as urea in the blood, sometimes under which farmers are only eligible for
caused by a metabolic dysfunction (NOTE: subsidies if they reduce the acreage of
As acidity increases the rumen wall certain crops planted. Abbr ARP (NOTE:
becomes inflamed. The animal dehydrates The British equivalent is set-aside.)
progressively, the blood turns more acidic aactincobactililonsisobacillosis /(cid:2)(cid:3)ktinəυb(cid:3)si
and in extreme cases the animal may die.) (cid:6)ləυsis/ noun a disease of cattle affecting|
aacid crainid rain noun precipitation such as rain the tongue and throat. It also occurs in
or snow which contains a higher level of sheep as swellings on the lips, cheeks and
acid than normal. Also called acid deposi- jaws. Also called cruels, wooden tongue
tion, acid precipitation aactincomyctetienomycete /(cid:2)(cid:3)ktinəυ(cid:6)maisi(cid:5)t/ noun
|
COMMENT: Acid rain is mainly caused by a bacterium shaped like a rod or filament.
sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other Order: Actinomycetales. (NOTE: Some
pollutants being released into the atmos- actinomycetes cause diseases while
phere when fossil fuels such as oil or others are sources of antibiotics.)
coal containing sulphur are burnt. Car- aactincomyctosiisnomycosis /(cid:2)(cid:3)ktinəυmai(cid:6)kəυsis/
bon combines with sulphur trioxide from |
sulphur-rich fuel to form particles of an noun a disease of cattle and pigs, where the
acid substance. The effects of acid rain animal is infected with bacteria which
are primarily felt by wildlife. The water in form abscesses in the mouth and lungs.
lakes becomes very clear as fish and Also called lumpy jaw
microscopic animal life are killed. It is aactivcatetivate verb to start a process or to make
believed acid rain kills trees, especially something start working (cid:2) Pressing this
conifers, making them gradually lose
switch activates the pump.
their leaves and die. Acid rain can also
damage surfaces such as the stone sur- aactivcatedt sliudvgeated sludge noun solid sewage
faces of buildings when it falls on them. containing active microorganisms and air,