olig-, oligo- +

Controlled by a few genes responsible for major heritable changes.

A condition of having borne few children.

Birth control by means of contraceptives.

1. The mating of a single male with a few females.
2. The presence of a few queens within a single colony of social insects.

A reference to planktonic organisms living in sea water of less than five parts per thousand salinity.

1. Characterized by salinity in the range immediately above that of “fresh” water.
2. A reference to organisms that are tolerant of only a moderate range of salinities.
3. Brackish water that has a salinity between 0.5 and 3.0 parts per thousand, or sea water having a salinity between 17 and 30 parts per thousand.

Scanty or very little perspiration.

Excretion of small quantities of urine, as seen in dehydration.

Infrequent episodes of menstrual bleeding characterized by a heavy flow.

1. Relating to deficient sleep.
2. Concerning partial sleep.

Infrequent episodes of menstrual bleeding associated with scant flow.

A description of eggs with a small amount of evenly distributed yolk; such as, the eggs of many invertebrates.

1. Selecting only a few; applied to insects visiting only a few different food plants or flowers.
2. A reference to insects that collect pollen from only a few different types of flowers.

A scarcity of words that is a condition in which a person says, or writes, fewer words than might normally be expected; given his/her personality, education, and the specific circumstances.

A madness which shows itself in just a few aspects or on a few subjects.