See Also: Royal National Theatre(encyclopedia)
Royal National Theatre(dictionary)
National Theatre(dictionary)
National Film Theatre, the(dictionary)
Theatre National Populaire (TNP)(encyclopedia)
National Library of Medicine(medicine)
National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine(health)
Royal Swazi National Air(tourism)
Royal Swazi National Air code(tourism)
Royal Swazi National Air flights(tourism)

asparagus (medicine) and Royal National Theatre (sh)


asparagus (medicine)


asparagus


1. <botany> A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceae, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.

2. The young and tender shoots of A. Officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of Food.

This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people.

<zoology> Asparagus beetle, a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.

Origin: L, fr. Gr,; cf. To swell with sap or juice, and Zend paregha prong, sprout, Pers. Asparag, Lith. Spurgas sprout, Skr. Sphurj to swell. Perh. The Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.


Royal National Theatre (sh)




British theatre company.

It was formed in 1962 as the National Theatre with Laurence Olivier as director (1963-73) and included many actors from the Old Vic company. In 1976 the company moved from London's Old Vic Theatre to a newly constructed three-theatre complex on the southern bank of the Thames. In 1988 Queen Elizabeth II gave the company permission to add "Royal" to its name. Partly subsidized by the state, the theatre presents a mixed classic and modern repertoire. Its directors have included Peter Hall (1973-88), Richard Eyre (1988-97), and Trevor Nunn (from 1997).