1. Chemistry. a. A suspension of finely divided particles in a continuous medium
in which the particles are approximately 5 to 5,000 angstroms in size, do not
settle out of the substance rapidly, and are not readily filtered. b. The particulate
matter so suspended.
2. Physiology. The gelatinous product of the thyroid
gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin,
which serves as the precursor and storage form of thyroid
hormone.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third
Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version
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