macho

4 definitions found

macho - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Macho \Ma"cho\, n. [Sp.] (Zool.)
     The striped mullet of California (Mugil cephalus, syn.
     Mugil Mexicanus).
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

  macho \ma"cho\, a. [Sp.]
     Manly, especially with an assertive and domineering manner
     toward women.
     [PJC]

  MACHO \MACHO\ (m[aum]"k[-o]), n. [acronym from Massive
     Astrophysical Compact Halo Object.]
     A form of dark matter in distant outer space unobservable
     except by its gravitational effect, and believed to be at
     least part of the "missing matter" which is unobservable as
     ordinary stars, but helps keep galaxies from flying apart;
     MACHOS are massive but compact objects such as neutron stars
     or brown dwarfs, which can be detected (with difficulty) by
     their effect in bending light from distant light sources,
     such as other galaxies. This can occur if by rare chance a
     MACHO passes in front of a more distant visible object, and
     the light from that object becomes temporarily amplified by
     the MACHO acting as a gravitational lens. Some MACHOs have
     been discovered in the halo of dark matter that surrounds our
     milky way. It is, however, questionable whether the amount of
     such matter is sufficient to explain the ability of galaxies
     to stay together in spite of rotation rates that would cause
     them to fly apart if the only matter present was that
     observable as visible stars.
     [PJC]

macho - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  macho
      adj 1: used of men; markedly masculine in appearance or manner
             [syn: butch, macho]
      n 1: a male exhibiting or characterized by machismo