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circadian rhythm
Inherent cycle of approximately 24 hours in length that appears to control or initiate various biological processes, including sleep, wakefulness, and digestive and hormonal activity.
Circassian language
Northwestern Caucasian language, with major eastern and western dialect groups.
Circe
In Greek legend, a sorceress, the daughter of the sun god Helios and the ocean nymph Perse.
Circeo, Mt.
Mountain, southwestern coast of Italy.
circle
Geometrical curve, one of the conic sections, consisting of the set of all points the same distance (the radius) from a given point (the centre).
circuit
Path that transmits electric current.
circuit riding
In the U.S., the act, once undertaken by a judge, of traveling within a judicial district (or circuit) to facilitate the hearing of cases.
circulation
Process by which nutrients, respiratory gases, and metabolic products are transported throughout the body.
circumcision
Cutting away of all or part of the foreskin (prepuce) of the penis.
circumstantial evidence
In law, evidence that is drawn not from direct observation of a fact at issue but from events or circumstances that surround it.
circus
Entertainment or spectacle featuring animal acts and human feats of daring.
cirrhosis
Degeneration of functioning liver cells and their replacement with fibrous connective tissue, leading to scarring.
Cisalpine Republic
Former republic, northern Italy.
Ciskei
Former black enclave, South Africa.
Cistercian
Member of a Roman Catholic monastic order founded by St. Stephen Harding (1098) at Cîteaux (Latin, Cistercium), Burgundy, by Benedictines dissatisfied with their abbey's laxity.
Citation
(foaled 1945) U.S. Thoroughbred racehorse.
Citigroup
U.S. holding company formed in 1998 from the merger of Citicorp (itself a holding company incorporated in 1967) and Travelers Group, Inc.
Citizen Genêt Affair
Incident precipitated by the French diplomat Citizen Edmond C. Genêt (1763–1834), who was sent to the U.S. in 1793 by the French government to gain support for France's war with Britain and Spain.
citizenship
Relationship between an individual and a state in which the individual owes allegiance to the state and in turn is entitled to its protection.
Citlaltépetl
Volcano, south-central Mexico.
citric acid
Colourless, crystalline organic compound (C6H8O7), one of the carboxylic acids.
citrine
Transparent, coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz.
Citroën
Historic French automobile manufacturer.
citron
Small evergreen tree or shrub (Citrus medica).
citrus
Any of the plants that make up the genus Citrus, in the rue family, that yield pulpy fruits covered with fairly thick skins.
city
Relatively permanent and highly organized centre of population, of greater size or importance than a town or village.
city government
Set of governmental institutions that serve an urban area or urban municipality.
city-state
Political system consisting of an independent city with sovereignty over a fixed surrounding area for which it served as leader of religious, political, economic, and cultural life.
Ciudad Guayana
City (pop., 2000 est.: 704,168), Venezuela.
Ciudad Victoria
City (pop., 2000: 249,029), capital of Tamaulipas state, northeastern Mexico.
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