dyke

[DIKE.] I. Ordinary Language. 1. A stone-wall fence. "The mason-lads that built the lang dyke."-Scott: Antiquary, ch. iv. 2. A sea-wall. II. Technically. IMG:content-0688.png:[blocks in formation] † 1. An hypothesis broached by Kant that all matter originated from the action of two mutually antagonistic forces-attraction and repulsion. All the predicates of these two forces are attributed by Kant to motion. 2. ( Of heat ): A theory or hypothesis-that now generally accepted as the correct one-which represents a heated body as being simply a body the particles of which are in a state of vibration. This vibratory movement increases as the body is still more heated, and diminishes proportionately as it more or le rapidly cools. It is called also the Mechanical theory of heat. dy-năm-1-cal-ly, adv . [Eng. dynamical ; -ly.) In a dynamical manner; as regards dynamics. dy-năm-Ics, s . pl . [DYNAMIC, a.] 1. Nat. Phil.: The science which treats of the 1. Mining : A bank of basalt or whin by which the action of force. It is divided into two branches: strata or lodes are frequently divided. 2. Geol.: [DIKE, 8.] dyke-reed, dyke-reve, s. Law : An officer who has charge of the dykes and drains in fenny countries. ( Wharton .)