Calcimine 
White or colored wash which is used on interior wall surfaces. 

Calcination 
The use of heat to break down chemical compounds. 

Calcine 
Heating materials to a point where they are changed to powder or calx and releasing water from the crystallized material. 

Calcium 
White metallic element, which forms part of limestone, chalk and gypsum; atomic number 20; atomic weight 40.08; atomic symbol Ca. 

Calcium Chloride 
Used to decrease the set-up time of concrete or mortar, calcium chloride is added. 

Calendared Paper 
Hard, smooth finished paper. Calibrate To fix, check or correct the graduations of a measuring instrument. 

California 
Gable roof end, which closes off the end of an overshooting roof ridge. 

California Bungalow 
Early twentieth century type of a small one-story home. 

California Ranch 
Long, one-story house with sloping roof with skylights and contemporary windows. 

Caliper 
An instrument consisting of a pair of curved, moveable legs, fastened together at one end, which is used to measure the thickness or diameter of something. There are both inside calipers and outside calipers. 

Caliper, Inside 
The ends of this caliper are curved outward to measure inside dimensions. 

Caliper, Outside 
The ends of this caliper are curved inward to measure outside dimensions. 

Caliper, Vernier 
A caliper that can be used to take both inside and outside measurements, it has a slider and a fixed projection mounted on a precision ruler. The slider, which is marked with precision gradations, locks into place with a screw adjustments. It is named after mathematician Pierre Vernier 1580-1637. 

Call Option 
Loan agreement clause allowing the lender to ask for the balance due at any time. 

Calorie 
Measurement of the amount of heat that is required to raise one gram of water, one degree Centigrade, to 15.5 degrees at atmospheric pressure. 

Cam 
A moving piece of machinery; a shaft or disk with a shape other than round which gives an eccentric rotation or a reciprocating motion to another wheel, a roller, shaft, etc. or it receives such motion from it. 

Camber 
Slightly convex arch, which is built into a load bearing beam, truss or girder to counteract any load bearing stress place on it. Also, a slight slope such as a driveway or roadway for runoff. 

Cambium 
The soft wood layer of formative cells between the wood and the bark in woody plants. 

Came 
Used when making leaded or stained glass windows, this thin lead bar has grooves to hold pieces of the decorative glass. 

Campanile 
Bell tower, that often stands alone, which has openings around the top to allow the sound of the bells to be heard more clearly. 

Camshaft 
A shaft to which cams are fastened. When an object comes in contact with a cam on a camshaft as the shaft is rotated, motion is imparted to that object. 

Cancellation 
To revoke, rescind or set aside something, such as an agreement. To make null and void. 

Cancellation Clause
The details under which each party may terminate an agreement. 

Candlepower 
Measurement of the intensity of light coming from a source in a particular direction; the measurement of light based on a burning wax candle as compared to that given off of a light bulb. 

Canopy 
An awning, which is usually made of fabric, which extends from the wall of a building and protects an entrance or window. 

Cant 
A sloping or slanting surface. To place something at an angle. 

Cant Brick 
Brick that is gradually become thinner on one side. 

Cant Hook 
A rod with a hook on the end, which is used to turn, logs. 

Cant Strip 
Triangular strip of wood that is used at the connecting point of a flat deck and a wall so that cracking of the roofing applied over it is prevented. Wood strip under shingles or board that hold them at an angle. 

Cantilever 
Structure that projects outward and is supported on one end by its strength and rigidity. For example, a balcony. Also, a bracket used to support an extended eave or cornice on the exterior of a house. 

Cantilever Beam 
Beam, which is supported on one end only. 

Cantilever Construction 
Method of construction where part of the structure is supported by a cantilever beam or truss. 

Cap 
1. The limit on the increase of interest allowable in an adjustable rate mortgage. 
2. The upper part of a column, pilaster, door cornice, wall or molding.3. Closure 

Cap, Acorn 
Decorative cap often used on metal fence posts whose rounded top resembles an acorn. 

Cap, Block 
Often called a paving block, this thin, flat piece of masonry is used to cap off a wall. 

Cap Course 
Top course of roofing which covers the ridge. 

Cap Flashing 
Flashing which is set in mortar and then bent to overlap another piece of flashing. 

Cap Sheet 
Top layer on a built-up roof, which is often covered in a protective mineral coating. 

Cap Stone 
Stone which is used on the top of a structure. 

Capacitance
Amount of electrical charge able to be stored by a capacitor. 

Capacitive Reactance 
Opposition of a capacitor, measured in ohms, to changes in voltage. 

Capacitor 
Device, used for storing an electrical charge, which consists of two or more conducting plates, which are separated from each other by an insulating material. 

Capacity 
The amount of development dollars an area can profitably support. Amount of traffic a highway design can support. Structural load carrying capability. 

Capacity of Parties 
Legal competence of parties to be held responsible for the terms of a contract or agreement. Underage or mentally incompetent people do not have legal capacity. 

Cape Chisel 
Metal chisel which is used to cut slots and whose cutting edge is narrower than the body. 

Cape Cod 
A style of wood-frame house with a steep roof and windows projecting outward from the second floor. Bedrooms are often on the first floor with a finished attic. 

Capillarity 
Liquid being drawn into a porous material by capillary action. 

Capital 
Money that generates income, for example, money invested in rental property. Net worth. 

Capital 
Decorative tops of pilasters or columns. 

Capital Appreciation 
Increase in the value of property. 

Capital Assets 
Assets purchased for use over long periods of time, such as land and buildings, rather than for resale and can be fixed assets consisting of tangible assets such as plants and equipment and intangible assets, such as patents. 

Capital Expenditure 
Money spent on improvements on a property, which becomes part of the cost of an existing fixed asset. 

Capital Gain 
Investment profit made from the sale of investments or real estate. 

Capital Gains Tax 
Taxes placed on profits from the sale of investments or real estate. 

Capital Improvement 
An improvement that increases the value of a piece of property. 

Capital Loss
Loss from an investment resulting from the sale of that real estate. 

Capitalization 
Mathematical formula used by investors to compute the value of a property based on net income. 

Capitalization Rate 
The percentage rate of return estimated from the net income of a piece of property. 

Capitalize 
Recording of an expenditure having a benefit of more than one year to the cost of a property such as a new kitchen or new roof. Upon sale of the property, the gain or loss, for tax purposes, is the difference between the selling price and the adjusted cost basis. If used for business, depreciation on the capital improvements may be deductible for tax purposes. 

Capital Lease 
Rental where the lessee obtains major property rights from the lessor although not legally a purchase of the property. 

Capital Recapture 
Return of invested principal, excluding earned income or collection of a previously written-off bad debt. 

Capital Recovery 
Amount of an investment, made in real estate, which is recovered. 

Capital Turnover 
Number of times a given amount of capital assets turn over to generate sales over a given period of time. 

Cap Rates (CAPS) 
Maximum interest rates a borrower might pay for an adjustable rate mortgage. 

Capricious Value 
Value assigned to real estate without any technical or scientific reason and is usually based on a personal feeling. 

Capstan 
A hoist made of a cable which is wound around a drum which has either a crank or motor attached to turn it to raise the load which is attached. It has a vertical axis of rotation used to wind or unwind the cable once it has a load attached. 

Caption 
Heading of a document. 

Capture Rate 
Proportionate share of an item to total items in the population. 

Capture Velocity 
Amount of air velocity necessary to draw contaminants into a ventilation filter. 

Capturing Hood 
Capturing hoods, which are usually used in laboratories or industry, have enough air suction to pull fumes from outside of the hood area. They control fumes for safety and health reasons by capturing them in the ventilation system where they are processed and neutralized, removing harmful vapors and then are released into the air.