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n. [ F. caramel (cf. Sp. caramelo), LL. canna mellis, cannamella, canamella, calamellus mellitus, sugar cane, from or confused with L. canna reed + mel, mellis, honey. See Cane. ] 1. (Chem.) Burnt sugar; a brown or black porous substance obtained by heating sugar. It is soluble in water, and is used for coloring spirits, gravies, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A kind of confectionery, usually a small cube or square of tenacious paste, or candy, of varying composition and flavor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. to to change into caramel, by the action of heat; as, The sugar caramelized quickly.
Syn. -- caramelize. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. to convert to caramel.
Syn. -- caramelize. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. 1 to to convert [ usu. sugar ] into caramel, by the action of heat.
Syn. -- caramelise. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. (Med.) A person who is trained to give first aid and other emergency medical assistance in the absence of a physician, and to assist a physician in the administration of health care. Paramedics are often associated with police, firefighting units, or rescue squads. [ PJC ]

‖a. (Med.) 1. Of or pertaining to those providing medical care who are not physicians but serve in the capacity of assisting physicians; nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, Physical Therapy instructors, and respiratory therapy technicians are examples of paramedical personnel. [ PJC ]

2. Of or pertaining to the type of medical care provided by paramedics or other paramedical personnel; as, paramedical treatment. [ PJC ]

n. [ Sp. paramento, from parar to prepare, L. parare. ] Ornamental hangings, furniture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lords in paraments on their coursers. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chamber of paraments, presence chamber of a monarch. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. ] Ornament; decoration. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. para- + -mere. ] (Zool.) One of the symmetrical halves of any one of the radii, or spheromeres, of a radiate animal, as a starfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. para- + -meter: cf. F. paramètre. ] 1. A constant number which is part of a theory, function, or calculation, whose value is not determined by the form of the theory or equation itself, and may in some cases be arbitrary assigned. [ PJC ]

2. Specifically: (a) (Math.) A term applied to some characteristic magnitude whose value, invariable as long as one and the same function, curve, surface, etc., is considered, serves to distinguish that function, curve, surface, etc., from others of the same kind or family. Brande & C. (b) (Conic Sections) (in the ellipse and hyperbola), a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the latus rectum. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Science) Any constant number which is required to calculate values of observed phenomena according to a theory, but the value of which must be determined by experiment, and cannot be calculated from the fundamental assumptions of the theory. In general, a theory which has a large number of parameters, though it may accurately predict experimental results, is considered as having less explanatory power and as being less esthetically pleasing than a theory with fewer parameters. [ PJC ]

4. (Crystallog.) The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane; also, the fundamental axial ratio for a given species. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The limits, guidelines, or assumptions from within which an activity is carried out; as, new arrivals need to learn the parameters of the research in our department. [ PJC ]

6. (Computers) A variable used in a calculation within a computer program which must be assigned a value before the calculation can be performed; as, let's plug in the parameters and see what the result is. [ PJC ]

7. A characteristic or element, especially one used as a criterion for evaluation or judgment; as, a useful parameter for determining efficiency. [ PJC ]