GLOSSARY

Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

-A-
ABO
• a basic classification system for blood types based upon the reaction of antigens and antibodies.
accelerant
• a flammable substance used to help start a fire
acute toxicity
• effects of a toxin occurring almost immediately (hours or days) after an exposure
adipocere
• also called "grave wax," insoluble fatty acids left as residue from preexisting fats from decomposing cadavers. It is
formed by the slow hydrolysis of fats in wet ground and can occur in both embalmed and untreated bodies.
agglutinate
• an allergic reaction where red blood cells clump together, usually in response to a particular antibody.
algor mortis
• the cooling of the body temperature after death.
alkaloid
• one of a class of bitter-tasting, basic organic compounds with nitrogen-containing rings, which are normally obtained
from plants. Alkaloids often have powerful effects on living things. Examples are cocaine, nicotine, strychnine, caffeine,
and morphine.
alleles
• sites where two genes that influence a particular trait are found on a chromosome pair. For example, a pair of alleles
may control the same trait such as eye color: One codes for blue eyes, another for brown eyes.
ambient
• concerning the surrounding area or environment.
amino acids
• organic compounds containing an amino group, NH2, and a carboxylic acid. Amino acids linked together make up
proteins.
anagen phase
• period of growth in the hair cycle, averaging three to five years
analgesics
• drugs that relieve pain
analyte
• a substance being analyzed
anisotropic
• substances that have more than one refractive index
antagonism
• combined effect of substances that decreases their individual effects; the opposite of synergism
anthropometry
• the study of human body measurements. The word is derived from the Greek anthropos, meaning man
antibody
• a protein produced by a body's immune system that tags
a molecule in order to destroy it
antigens
• foreign substances in the body that are capable of causing disease. The presence of antigens triggers an immune
response, usually the production of antibodies
antiserum
• human or animal serum containing antibodies that are specific for one or more antigens.
arch
• least common and simplest fingerprint pattern. Arches have no delta or core. All ridges enter one side and exit the
other.
arraignment
• the first act in a criminal procedure, where the defendant is brought before the court to hear charges and enter a
plea.
arthropods
• animals characterized by jointed legs, a segmented body, and a hard, nonliving exo- (outer) skeleton. The
exoskeleton does not keep up with the growth of the insect, and so must be shed periodically. This process is called
molting. The stages between molts are termed instars.
association
• a link between an unknown sample and known evidence
autolysis
• a process by which a biological cell self-destructs.
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-B-
backhand writing
• writing in which the slant of the letters is to the left of vertical.
bail
• money put up to guarantee that the defendant will appear in court as directed. A bondsman pays the bail for a fee of
10 percent of the bail amount. If the defendant does not appear when the time comes, the bondsman may hire bounty
hunters to find and return the suspect
ballistics
• the science that deals with the motion, behavior, and effects of projectiles, most often firearms and bullets.
Becke line
• a halo-like shadow appearing around an object immersed in a liquid of a different refractive index.
• a light-colored halo appearing around an object immersed in a liquid of a different refractive index
bifurcations
• common minutiae, shaped like a twopronged fork.
birefringence
• the numerical difference between refractive indices of anisotropic substances
blend
• a fabric made up of two or more different types of fiber, usually as warp and weft
blind forgery
• one made without a model of the signature or writing being forged.
blood factors
• a specific combination of antigens, enzymes, and proteins in the blood.
blowback
• the backscattering of a substance toward the direction of force
booking
• a police procedure following arrest that records basic information about the suspects, a photograph, and fingerprints,
and perhaps includes a lineup.
bore
• the interior diameter of a gun barrel
bots
• programs that provide attackers with unauthorized control of a computer (ro-"bot").
breech
• portion of the gun that contains the firing mechanism.
buffer
• a solution containing either a weak acid and its salt or a weak base and its salt, which is resistant to changes in pH.
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-C-
caliber
• the diameter of the bore of a firearm or the cartridge that it fires, expressed in hundredths of an inch.
cannabis
• a tall, annual hemp plant native to central Asia from which marijuana is harvested; also refers to the harvested
product
cannelures
• grooves around a bullet that provide a means of crimping the cartridge case to the bullet.
carrion
• the carcass of a dead and decaying animal.
catagen phase
• intermediate period of hair growth, lasting about three weeks
catalyst
• a small amount of a substance that increases the rate of a reaction without being used up in the process
Caucasoid
• descriptor for people of European, Middle Eastern, and East Indian descent.
chain of custody
• a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence.
chamber
• part of the firearm that contains a cartridge for firing.
cheiloscopy
• the study of lip prints, from the Greek word cheilos, meaning "lip".
chelating agent
• an organic compound that complexes with a metal to form a ring structure.
chemical properties
• characteristics that determine how a substance will change to another substance with different physical properties
chemiluminescence
• the emission of light from a chemical reaction.
Within an organism such as a firefl y, it is called bioluminescence.
A + B ? [I]* ? products + light [I]* is an excited state
chromatogram
• the record of chromatographic separation
chromatography
• a method of separating components of mixtures based on preferential adsorption or partitioning of components in a
gas, liquid, or solution. In paper chromatography, the cellulose of the paper acts as the adsorbing medium. In thin-layer
chromatography (TLC), the silica gel or alumina selectively adsorbs the components of the mixture. The word
chromatography is derived from the Greek chroma, color, and graphe, writing.
chromosomes
• long, threadlike groups of genes found in the nucleus of a cell
chronic exposure
• continuing exposure to toxins over a long period of time; thus chronic toxicity.
Circumstantial evidence
• evidence based on suggestion rather than personal knowledge or observation.
civil law
• law that deals with noncriminal suits brought to protect or preserve a civil or private right or matter
class characteristics
• like class evidence, features that are typical of a group. The more different class characteristics there are with the
subject of attention, the more the size of the group can be reduced until ultimately, it is a group of one. It is then
unique.
class evidence
• material that can be associated only with a group of items that share properties or characteristics.
clavicle
• also known as the collarbone; its medial ends meet in the center of the body.
common law or case law
• the body of law made up of judicial opinions and precedents.
computer forensics
• the application of computer science to aid the legal process.
confirmatory tests
• tests that specifically identify one substance
control sample
• material that is similar to the questioned and known samples, and is used to validate the test method and procedure.
controlled drugs
• material whose possession is controlled by law
copyright
• the legal right of ownership of work produced in books, music, plays, movies, graphics/pictures, and computer
software. Copyrighted material cannot be copied without permission from the owner of the copyright.
core
• area found near the center of all loop and whorl patterns.
cortex
• middle layer of the hair shaft that provides strength; comprises most of the hair mass.
cortical fusi
• irregularly shaped air spaces in the cortex
crime scene
• any place where evidence may be located and gathered to help explain events.
crimeware
• software tools built with the purpose of committing online scams and stealing information from consumers and
businesses.
criminal law
• regulation of rights, setting the acceptable limits of conduct in society.
criminalistics
• the examination of physical evidence. The term forensics may also include broader areas of investigation, such as
pathology.
cuticle
• tough, clear outside covering of the hair shaft.
cybercrime
• unlawful acts where the computer is either a tool or a target or both.
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-D-
dactyloscopy
• the study of fingerprints. The word is derived from the Greek daktulos, meaning finger.
Daubert ruling
• revision of the Frye standard for admissibility of expert scientific evidence. The Daubert ruling implicitly endorses a
classical definition of the scientific method, including hypothesis testing, estimated of error rates, peer-reviewed
publication, and general acceptance
decant
• to pour off the top layer of liquid after the bottom material has settled.
degree-day
• a unit of measure of the energy absorbed by a biological system, causing growth.
delta
• triangular area found in all loop and whorl patterns.
denial of service (DoS)
• when a victim's computer is flooded with more requests than it can handle, causing it to crash.
density
• a physical property of matter .D _ mass of object
volume of objectDensity is usually expressed in g/cc.
It can change with temperature (and pressure, in the case of gases).
designer drugs
• drugs synthesized with particular pharmacological characteristics, designed for abuse and evasion of specific drug
laws
diacritics
• the crossing of t's or dotting of i's and j's.
diagenesis
• the process of chemical and physical change in deposited sediment during its conversion to rock.
diaphysis
• the shaft of a long bone.
dichotomous
• "divided into two parts"; therefore, dichotomous keys always give two choices in each step in identifying an organism.
DNA
• deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material of most organisms
DUI
• driving under the influence.
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-E-
eclosion
• emergence of an adult fly from its pupal case.
ejector
• the part on the firearm whose function is to throw a spent casing from the gun after firing.
electrophoresis
• a procedure that separates DNA fragments according to size
elements
• in criminal law, the specific factors or parts of a crime.
elute
• to extract one material from another, usually by means of a solvent.
EMIT
• an enzyme immunoassay test to detect particular types of metabolites in body fluids, commonly used for screening
drug use
entomology
• the study of insects.
• the scientific study of insects.
enzyme
• a protein that acts as a catalyst in a living organism
enzymes
• proteins that cause a chemical reaction to occur at a rate that is sufficient to support life
epiphyses
• growth plates found at the ends of the long bones. They form in adolescence and fuse to the bone during early
adulthood.
erythrocytes
• red blood cells.
evidence
• anything that tends to establish or disprove a fact. Evidence may include testimony, documents, and other objects.
• something that tends to establish or disprove a fact. Evidence can include documents, testimony, and other objects.
exemplar
• term used in forensics to describe a sample of known origin; for example, we know that this hair was pulled out of so-
and-so's scalp.
expert witness
• a person who is a specialist in a subject that is often technical, who may present his or her expert opinion without
actually witnessing any occurrence relating to the case. This is an exception to the rule against giving an opinion in a
trial, provided that the expert is qualified by his or her expertise, training, and special knowledge.
extractor
• hooked or crescent-shaped part attached to the breechblock which .withdraws the spent casing from the chamber
when the breechblock separates from the barrel after firing.
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-F-
fabric
• in this context, a cloth material made up of fibers woven or bonded together in a distinctive manner.
false positive
• a test result that comes out positive when it should not; often caused by contamination or failure to run a control.
felony
• a serious crime, such as murder, punishable by more than one year of imprisonment up to execution.
femur
• long bone found in the leg extending from the hip to the knee.
fibers
• usually made up of many filaments twisted or bonded together to form a thread or yarn.
filaments
• single strands of material, usually twisted with other filaments to make a thread or fiber.
fingerprint
• an imprint made by ridge patterns on the tip of a finger; also used to describe the characteristic pattern of DNA
fragments
forensic anthropology
• a type of applied physical anthropology that specializes in the human skeletal system for purposes of identifying
unknown remains.
forgery
• an item prepared with the intent to deceive or defraud. It can be an autograph, a book, a painting, a baseball card, a
stamp, an antique, or almost anything.
Frye standard
• commonly called the "general acceptance" test, the Frye standard dictates that scientific evidence is admissible at
trial only if the methodology or scientific principle on which the opinion is based is "sufficiently established to have
gained general acceptance in the particular field in which it belongs." The Frye test applies only to 6 "new" or "novel"
scientific methodologies
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-G-
gait
• a manner of walking or moving on foot, said to be as individualized as your personality.
gauge
• the interior diameter of a shotgun barrel as determined by the number of lead balls of a size exactly fitting the barrel
that are required to make one pound.
generic
• related to an entire group or class of products; not having a brand name
genes
• specific sequences of nucleotides in the DNA usually found on a chromosome; the functional unit of inheritance
threaded around its 23 paired chromosomes
Glaister equation
• a formula used for determining the approximate time period since death based on body temperature
grains
• basic units of weight in the British system, originally based on the weight of a grain of barley. Grains are still used as
a unit of weight for precious metals, gunpowder and bullets, and gemstones.
grand jury
• a group of people sworn to inquire into a crime and, if appropriate , bring accusations (indictments) against the
suspected criminals
Greiss test
• a color test for the presence of nitrite in gunpowder residue.
grooves
• spiral cuts into the bore of a barrel that give the bullet its spin or rotation as it moves down the barrel.
GSR
• gunshot residue consisting of burned and unburned powder, vaporized and particulate lead, primer residues of lead,
barium, and antimony.
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-H-
hacking
• unauthorized access to computer systems or networks.
half-life
• the time it takes for half a sample to decay.
head stamp
• numerals, letters, and symbols on the base of a cartridge showing the manufacturer, caliber, and code.
hearsay
• testimony given by a witness who relates not what he or she heard, saw, or knows personally, but what others have
said. The knowledge is dependent on the credibility of the person who first made the statement, and therefore is not
admissible in court unless it meets a hearsay exception.
helix
• a three-dimensional, twisted shape, like a spring
• a spiral arrangement, like a corkscrew, of a long-chain molecule.
hemoglobin
• the oxygen carrier that gives red blood cells their color. It is composed of four globin (protein) chains, each with a
heme group.
homopolymers
• polymers made up of one type of repeating unit. Each is made from one monomer only.
humerus
• long bone found in the arm extending from the shoulder to the elbow.
humus
• the organic part of soil. Soils high in humus are dark-colored and usually form either under prairie grasses or in wet
locations, such as bogs and marshes, where lack of oxygen slows decomposition of the organic matter
hydrogen bonds
• weak attractive forces between hydrogen atoms in a particular molecule and a nearby electronegative atom, such as
oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine, in the same or another molecule
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-I-
iliac crest
• found on the top of the hip bone.
immiscible
• describes materials that do not mix. When shaken, two immiscible liquids will separate to their original volumes.
indented writing
• impressions left under paper that has been written on.
Indict
• to formally accuse a person of a crime.
indirect evidence
• evidence providing only a basis for inference about the disputed fact.
Individual characteristics
• like individual evidence, qualities that cause the subject to be unique.
individual evidence
• material that can be related to a single source; individualization always involves a comparison
infraction
• violation of a rule or law that is not punishable by prison
inorganic
• refers to substances not composed primarily of hydrocarbons, that is, carbon and hydrogen. Examples of inorganic
fibers are asbestos and fiberglass. Inorganic is the opposite of organic.
instar
• a developmental stage of arthropods, generally referring to changes in the size of the larvae.
interference patterns
• patterns that demonstrate the wave nature of light, resulting from constructive (additive) and destructive combinations
of light waves. This happens when a small object deflects coherent light so that the wave fronts travel different
distances. This phenomenon is called diffraction
ions
• atoms or molecules that have lost or gained one or more electrons and, thus, have a net positive or negative charge
isotopes
• chemical elements that have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.
isotropic
• substances that have only one refractive index
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-J-
jimmy
• a short crowbar with curved ends.
junk Science
• theories based on distorted, flawed, or untested hypothesis not derived from or tested by the scientific method.
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-K-
keratin
• a tough protein polymer made up of about 20 different amino acids. The principal one is cystine, which allows strong
disulfide bonds to form between protein chains. This cross-linking is what makes hair so resistant to chemical and
biological
degradation. All that sulfur in keratin also accounts for the distinctive smell of burning hair.
• the main protein in all animal hair, including human hair.
known sample
• material that comes from a proven or known source
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-L-
lands
• the raised areas between two grooves in the rifling of a gun barrel that impart grooves on the bullet.
latent print
• fingerprint made by the deposit of perspiration or body oils; invisible to the naked eye until developed.
LD50
• lethal dose for 50 percent of a given population
leukocytes
• white blood cells.
livor mortis
• a purple or red discoloration of the skin caused by pooling of blood after death.
• a purple or red discoloration caused by pooling of blood after death.
Locard Exchange Principle
• there is always a cross transfer of evidence between suspect and victim or locale.
loop
• fingerprint pattern with one or more ridges entering from one side, curving, then going out on the same side entered.
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-M-
macrofauna
• animals visible to the naked eye, generally 1 mm and longer.
magazine
• a container that holds cartridges under spring pressure to be fed into the gun's chamber; also called a clip.
malleable
• capable of being shaped, bent, or drawn out; flexible.
malware
• software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's consent.
match point
• point at which the Becke line disappears, indicating that the refractive indices of the object and the liquid medium are
the same
material
• in evidence law, relevant and significant. A material witness has information about the subject
medulla
• the spongy interior core of hair that gives it fl exibility; appears as a canal in the middle of the shaft.
melanin
• a natural pigment found in the skin. Ultraviolet rays in sunlight make it more concentrated, causing tanning.
metabolism
• the sum of all chemical processes occurring in an organism. Metabolites are organic molecules involved in the
process of metabolism; they can form more complex molecules, or they may result from the degradation of
compounds.
metabolite
• a specific product of a substance, formed by chemical processes in the body.
metamorphosis
• biological process in the development of animals, usually involving conspicuous changes in the animal's form or
structure. About 88 percent of all insects go through complete metamorphosis in four major stages.
microgram
• one-millionth of a gram, or one-thousandth of a milligram
micrometer
• one-millionth of a meter, or one-thousandth of a millimeter (mm).
minutiae
• in descriptions of fingerprints, ridge characteristics.
Miranda rights or Miranda warning
• rights guaranteed by the Constitution that police must tell arrestees about especially the right to remain silent and the
right to an attorney.
misdemeanor
• a minor crime, less than a felony, usually punished with a fine or confinement other than in a prison.
mites
• tiny eight-legged creatures belonging to the order Acarina, related to spiders and ticks. Some mites live freely, others
as parasites.
mobile phase
• the carrier of analytes in chromatographic separations; also called the developing solvent.
modus operandi
• the characteristic method of operation of a criminal; sometimes referred to as MO.
molt
• the shedding of an insect's outer skeleton during a growth stage.
Mongoloid
• descriptor for people of Asian, Native American, and Polynesian Descent.
morphology
• form and structure.
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-N-
necrophagous
• feeding on carrion; from the Greek word phagos, to eat, and necro, meaning dead.
Negroid
• descriptor for people of African, Aborigine, and Melanesian Descent.
Nigerian letter scheme
• a scheme where recipients are offered the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars if they first
front some of their own money.
ninhydrin
• a biochemical reagent used to detect free amino and carboxyl groups in proteins and peptides; the resulting color is
called Ruhemann's purple.
nolo contendere
• in a criminal lawsuit, when a defendant neither admits nor denies committing a crime but accepts punishment as
though he or she were guilty.
nystagmus
• rapid, involuntary jerking of the eyeball. There are many types of nystagmus which are not alcohol-related
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-O-
obliterate
• to remove writing.
odontology
• in forensics, examination of bite marks and dental identification of corpses.
optical brighteners
• colorless dyes that cause blue light to be reflected, thereby making an object look whiter.
os pubis
• on the anterior side of the pelvis where the hip bones come together.
osteology
• the study of bones.
osteons
• structures in bones that carry the blood supply.
outsoles
• the outer soles of shoes that are the bottom of the shoe, in contact with the ground.
oviposition
• the depositing or laying of eggs. To oviposit means to lay eggs.
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-P-
palynology
• the study of pollen and spores
pathology
• investigation of sudden, unexplained, or violent death.
pharming
• redirecting users to false websites without them knowing it.
phishing
• attempting to steal personal information by sending out e-mails that appear to come from legitimate websites.
physical evidence
• tangible items that tend to prove some material fact; also called real evidence.
Physical properties
• characteristics that do not involve a change in the identity of a substance, such as odor, color, boiling point, density,
and refractive index
piracy
• the act of stealing valuable property by copying software, music, graphics/ pictures, movies, and books that are
available on the Internet.
plasma
• the fluid portion of blood, obtained by centrifuging a sample of whole blood.
• the fluid portion of blood, obtained by centrifuging a whole blood sample
plastics
• substances that flow under heat and pressure and can, therefore, be molded into various shapes. All plastics are
polymers,
but not all polymers are plastics.
plea bargaining
• an agreement in which a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge and the prosecutor in return drops more serious
charges to avoid the cost and time of a trial.
polarizers
• gratings that stop all light waves except those vibrating in one preferred direction. By taking a second polarizer, and
crossing it at right angles with the first, all light is effectively blocked. This is termed crossed polarizers.
polyethers
• a series of carbon atoms connected by oxygen atoms, such as:
[O-CH2-CH2 ]O On The subscript n refers to the number of ether units in the polymer.
polygraphy
• the use of the lie detector.
polymer
• a molecule consisting of many identical repeating units; polymers can be naturally occurring or synthetic.
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• a lab technique used to make multiple copies of DNA for further testing or characterization
polypeptide
• a biochemical polymer formed by linking amino acids; the longer chains are called proteins.
postmortem interval (PMI)
• the time elapsed since a person has died.
precipitin test
• test that distinguishes between human and animal blood
preliminary or evidentiary hearing
• a hearing before a magistrate or a judge to determine whether a person charged with a crime should be held for trial,
also sometimes called a preliminary examination.
presumptive test
• test that presumes the presence of the questioned substance; also called a screening test. A blue-purple color in the
test for marijuana can also be caused by other substances. In such a case, it is a false positive.
A negative test result, however, confirms that there is no marijuana in the sample.
probable cause
• situation in which a reasonable and prudent person, viewing the available information, would conclude that a crime
has been committed and that the suspect committed it.
probative
• in evidence law, tending to prove something.
proteins
• fundamental components of all living cells, including enzymes, hormones, and antibodies. Proteins are composed of
amino acids linked together with peptide bonds. Some of the more familiar proteins are hemoglobin and insulin.
puparia
• cases formed by the hardening of the last larval skin in which the pupa is formed. Color starts out white and turns
brown with time. Singular: puparium.
putrefaction
• the decomposition of animal proteins, especially by anaerobic microorganisms.
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-Q-
questioned
• term used in forensics to describe a sample of unknown origin; for example, a hair was found on a jacket, but we do
not know whose head it came from.
questioned or unknown sample
• material that has been collected from a known location but is of unknown origin.
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-R-
radius
• long bone found in the arm extending from the elbow to the wrist.
refraction
• the bending of a light wave as it passes from one medium to another
restriction enzymes
• enzymes that are used to cut DNA into smaller fragments
retention factor (Rf)
• a ratio used to characterize and compare components of samples in liquid chromatography
Rh factor
• a basic blood factor, independent of ABO types.
rifled
• the bore of a gun barrel that has been machined to form a grooved spiral, much like a helix.
rigor mortis
• a stiffness in the muscles that occurs shortly after death.
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-S-
salt
• in chemistry, the product of an acid with a base: for example, magnesium hydroxide and sulfuric acid combine to
make magnesium sulfate.
saponifi cation
• the alkaline hydrolysis of fatty acid esters. In chemistry, it refers to the reaction of a base with a fat to form soap.
secretors
• people whose blood type antigens are also found in other body fluids
serology
• the laboratory study of body fluids using specific antigen and serum antibody reactions.
serum
• a liquid that separates from clotted blood.
short tandem repeats (STR)
• specific sequences of DNA fragments that are repeated at a particular site on a chromosome
shot
• lead spheres in a shotgun shell.
simulated forgery
• one made by copying a genuine signature.
sizing
• in paper manufacturing, starch or other fillers added to fill gaps, improve writability, and stiffen the paper.
slug
• a single shot or bullet in a shotgun shell.
sodium rhodizonate test
• a color test for the presence of lead in gunshot residue.
spam
• junk or unsolicited e-mail sent by a third party; it can be used to deliver Trojan horses, viruses, and phishing
attempts.
spectrophotometer
• a device for measuring the interaction of light with matter
spectrophotometry
• measurement of the absorption of electromagnetic radiation of a substance at different wavelengths of the spectrum
spectroscopy
• the branch of science that involves the study of electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter
spoofed websites
• imitations of true, legitimate sites.
stance
• distance from the centerline of the right tire to the centerline of the left tire.
stare decisis
• "to stand by the decision," meaning previous legal decisions are to be followed.
stationary phase
• the fixed adsorbing medium of analytes in chromatographic separations.
statutory law
• legislative acts declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something
striae
• parallel sets of scratches on a bullet caused by unique markings in the bore of a rifled weapon.
sutures
• immovable joints where bone are joined together. They are visible as seams on the surface.
symphysis
• a place where two bones meet and may rub together.
synergism
• combined effect of substances that exceeds the sum of their individual effects.
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-T-
taxonomy
• the classification of things in an orderly way that indicates natural relationships.
telogen phase
• final phase in hair growth, resulting in the loss of hair over about three months.
teratogen
• an agent that can cause birth defects in an embryo or fetus. Two well-known examples are alcohol and thalidomide
testimonial evidence
• what is said in court by a competent witness; also called direct evidence or prima facie evidence
textiles
• fabrics woven in a distinctive pattern (although bonded textiles, such as felt lack a pattern).
tibia
• long bone found in the leg extending from the knee to the ankle.
toxicology
• the study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms
toxins
• substances that cause injury to the health of a living thing on contact or absorption, typically by interacting with
enzymes and receptors. The term is usually reserved for naturally produced substances that kill rapidly in small
quantities
traced forgery
• one made by tracing a genuine signature.
Trojan horse
• a deceptively labeled program that contains at least one function that is unknown to the user and that harms the
user. It does not copy itself.
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-U-
undulation
• in hair morphology, slight waviness undulated twisted
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-V-
ventral arc
• a bony ridge that is formed on the ventral (lower) side of the female os pubis.
violation
• a breach of a right, duty, or law
virus
• a program that attaches itself to a computer or a file and then circulates to other files and to other computers on a
network.
viscosity
• the resistance of a fluid to flow. Water has a low viscosity relative to syrup. Heating generally lowers the viscosity of a
liquid.
visible print
• fingerprint left by a finger that has touched blood, paint, ink, or the like.
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-W-
warp
• the lengthwise yarn or thread in a weave.
watermark
• a design incorporated into the paper during manufacturing.
webjacking
• when a hacker gains access to and control over the website of another user.
weft or woof
• the crosswise yarn or thread in a weave
wheelbase
• distance from center of front wheel hub to center of rear wheel.
whorl
• fingerprint pattern with at least two deltas and a core.
worm
• a program that copies itself. The distinction between a virus and a worm is that a virus never copies itself; a virus is
copied only when the infected file is run.
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-Y-
yarn
• a continuous strand of fibers or filaments, either twisted or not
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-Z-
zombies
• Internet computers infected with bots that secretly connect these PCs to websites or chat rooms where they can be
controlled remotely. Some experts believe that networks of zombies, also called botnets, now send up to three-
quarters of all spam.
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