formic1dæ

pl. [Latin formic ( a ) =an ant, and fem. pl. adj. suff. idœ.] Entom.: A genus of Aculeate Hymenoptera, tribe or sub-tribe Heterogyna. The abortive females are wingle , the basal joint of the antenne in the females and neuters is long and elbowed; the upper lip of the neuters large, horny, and perpendicular, the first or second joint of the abdomen knotted. In many species the females and neuters have stings. They are generally social insects living in communities, consisting of males, females, and neuters. The chief genera are Formica, Polyergus, Ponera, Myrmica, and Atta. Formica and Myrmica have representatives widely distributed. IMG:content-0056.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0057.png:[blocks in formation] is a formula, being the algebraic expre ion of the fact that the sum of two quantities multiplied by their difference is equal to the difference of their squares. If a rule or principle is translated into algebraic expre ions, the result is a formula; conversely, if a formula is translated into ordinary language, the result is a rule or principle. 4. Med .: A prescription. (1) Dental formula : [DENTAL FORMULA.] for-mu-lar-ize, v . t . [English formular ; -ize .] To formulate or reduce to a formula; to expre or set down in a systematic and clear form.