Random Image

You are here: Random Image > Words beginning with a > Random Image for abakan

Possible definitions for abakan

abalone
Any of several marine snail species (genus Haliotis, family Haliotidae), found in warm seas worldwide. The outer surface of the single shell has a row of small holes, most of which fill in as the animal grows; some remain open as outlets for waste products. Abalones range from 4 to 10 in. (10-25 cm) across and up to 3 in. (8 cm) deep. The largest is the 12 in. (30 cm) abalone (H. rufescens). The shell's lustrous, iridescent interior is used in ornaments, and the large muscular foot is eaten as a delicacy. Commercial abalone fisheries exist in California, Mexico, Japan, and S. Africa.


Akan
Cluster of peoples inhabiting S Ghana, E Ivory Coast, and parts of Togo. Their languages are of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family. In the 14th-18th cent. several Akan states, notably the Fante confederacy and the Ashanti empire, formed in regions where gold was produced and traded. Today many of the Akan, who number about 5 million, work in urban districts.


Atalanta
In Greek mythology, a swift-footed huntress. Born in Boeotia or Arcadia, she was left to die at birth but was suckled by a bear. As an adult she took part in the famous Calydonian boar hunt and drew first blood. She offered to marry any man who could outrun her in a race, but the losers were required to pay with their lives. One contestant, Hippomenes (or Milanion), obtained three golden apples from Aphrodite to carry in the race. As he dropped them, Atalanta stooped to pick them up, and thus lost the race. The two were later turned into lions after they desecrated a shrine to Cybele or Zeus.


Ibadan
City (pop., 1996 est.: 1,432,000), SW Nigeria. Situated northeast of Lagos, it is the nation's second largest city. The modern city grew from a camp set up by the armies of the Ife, Ijebu, and Oyo peoples in 1829; it was taken by the British in 1893. An important commercial center, it contains six parks, incl. Agodi Garden. It is the seat of the Univ. of Ibadan.


Mbabane
Capital and largest town (pop., 1990 est.: 47,000) of Swaziland. Located in W Swaziland, it developed near the cattle kraal of the Swazi king Mbandzeni in the late 19th cent. The actual town was founded in 1902, when the British assumed control of Swaziland and set up an administrative headquarters there. A Mozambican railway link near Mbabane was established in 1964, primarily to export iron ore extracted in the region; production of the ore had virtually ceased by the late 1970s.


wakan
Among some Amer. Indian tribes, a spiritual power of supernatural origin belonging to some natural objects, people, horses, and celestial and terrestrial phenomena. Wakan can be conceived of as weak or strong powers; the weak can be ignored but the strong must be placated. Wakan beings are the immortal supernatural powers who bestow wakan; they too may be weak or strong, but are all believed to enjoy music and smoke from pipes. ...

Top words beginning with A: avenolith, atramentarius, ambuling, arion, agacella, archipelago, adcaduod, approvers, arvos, accredited, anoplothere, amt, alimentative, aves, antennulary, albumoscope, assacu, aphorise, anguillicaudatus, acomponent

More words beginning with A.

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