Kapnography, kap-nog′ra-fi, n. the art of producing decorative designs on a smoked surface with a fine point, shading by successive deposits of carbon from a flame, fixed by varnish.—adj. Kapnograph′ic. [Gr. kapnos, smoke, graphia—graphein, to write.]
Kapok, ka-pok′, n. a cottony or silky fibre covering the seeds of a species of silk-cotton tree, used for stuffing pillows, &c.
Karaite, kā′rä-īt, n. one of a stricter sect of Jews who cling to the literal interpretation of Scripture as against oral tradition. [Heb. karaīm, readers.]
Karma, kär′mä, n. the Buddhist conception of the quality of actions, including both merit and demerit, determining the future condition of all sentient beings by a sort of virtue inherent in the nature of things—by the blind and unconscious but inevitable concatenation of cause and effect: the theory of inevitable consequence generally: the result of the actions of a life.—adj. Kar′mic. [Sans. karma, work.]
Karmathian, kär-mā′thi-an, n. a member of a pantheistic socialistic Mohammedan sect which arose in Turkey about the close of the 9th century. [Karmat, its founder.]
Karob, kar′ob, n. among goldsmiths, the twenty-fourth part of a grain.
Karroo, ka-rōō′, n. a generic name given to the high barren plains of Cape Colony.—Also Karoo′. [Hottentot, karusa, hard.]
Kassu, kas′ōō, n. a kind of catechu made from the fruit of the betel-nut palm.
Kat, kat, n. the chief ancient Egyptian unit of weight, 1⁄50 lb. avoirdupois.
Katabolism, kat-ab′ol-izm, n. (biol.) the discharging or disruptive process to which protoplasm is constantly subject—the opposite of Anabolism, the up-building, constructive process.—Also Catab′olism. [Gr. katabolē, kataballein, to throw down.]