aestus, estus
An increase of heat to a region of the body; such as, a facial flush.
estival, aestival
1. A reference to an early summer season.
2. Relating to or happening during summer.
estivation, aestivation, estivate, aestivate
1. Passing the summer or dry season in a dormant or torpid state.
Usually a reference to animals; especially some amphibians, reptiles, and insects.
2. The manner in which plant structures are folded prior to expansion or opening.
3. To spend the summer in a particular place.
estrus, oestrus
1. A recurrent, restricted period of sexual receptivity in female mammals other than humans, marked by intense sexual urge as a result of congestion of and secretion by the uterine mucosa, proliferation of vaginal epithelium, swelling of the vulva, ovulation, and acceptance of the male by the female.
During estrus, the animal is said to be "in heat".
This word is presented here to let you know that it has no etymological connection with the estiv-, aestiv-; estuar-, aestuar- elements of this unit. Most dictionaries do not make this distinction and that is why it is presented here.
2. Etymology: from Latin
oestrus, "frenzy, gadfly"; from Greek
oistros, "gadfly, breeze, sting, mad impulse; frenzy".
estuarial
1. A reference to the part of the wide lower course of a river where its current is met by the tides.
2. A descriptive term relating to or found in estuaries which are arms of the seas that extend inland to meet the mouths of rivers.
estuarine
Of, relating to, or found in an estuary; that is, an area where a freshwater river meets the ocean and tidal influences result in fluctuations in the salinity of the intermixed waters.
estuarine deposit
A sedimentary deposit laid down at the head or floor of an estuary, and characterized by fine-grained, clayey, or silty sediments mixed with decomposed organic matter.
estuarine environment
The physical conditions that characterize an estuary.
estuarine oceanography
The study of the physical, geological, chemical, and biological properties or characteristics of estuaries.
estuary, estuaries
1. A tidal opening, an inlet or creek through which the tide enters; an arm of the sea indenting the land.
2. The tidal mouth of a great river, where the tide meets the current of fresh water.
3. A semi-enclosed coastal body of water that has a connection with the open sea and within which fresh water and salt water mix through the influence of currents and tides.
4. Etymology: from Latin
aesturium, "a tide place" from
aestus, "heat, fire; the ebb and flow of the sea, tide"; related to
aestus, "heat".
An estuary is the mouth of a river where the tide of the ocean and the current of the river meet, and the rough waters at such a point demanded a word of action. The Latin aestuarium gave us the word from aestus which meant "heat", bubbling", "boiling" and so the "swelling sea".
—According to Wilfred Funk, Litt. D. in his
Word Origins and Their Romantic Stories;
Publishers Grosset & Dunlap; New York; 1950; page 339.
There are those who are trying to develop tidal energy; that is, water-powered turbines that spin in the current as the tides come and go, turning generators to make electricity that is lean and, they hope, reasonably priced.
Estuaries make promising locations for tidal power; that is, if the technology improves and more power can be generated in slower currents.
—Based on information located in
"Tide and time beckon green-energy entrepreneurs" by Henry Fountain;
International Herald Tribune; April 23, 2010; page 16.
estuary pollution
Contamination of estuaries by materials; such as, sewage effluents, chemicals, detergents, and fertilizer runoffs.
estuation
Commotion of a fluid; a boiling as of a fluid; agitation.
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