OSAC Lexicon
The OSAC Lexicon is a compendium of forensic science terms and definitions. This terminology tool was created to help bring consistency and understanding to the way terms are used by the various forensic science. Use of the OSAC Lexicon does not replace the need to reference the original published source.
The terms and definitions in the OSAC Lexicon come from the published literature, including documentary standards and technical reports. It is continually updated with the latest work from OSAC units, as well as terms from newly published documentary standards and standards elevated to the OSAC Registry.
Gradually terms are evaluated and harmonized by the OSAC to a single term. This process results in an OSAC Preferred Term. An OSAC Preferred Term is a term, along with its definition, that has undergone review and evaluation by the FSSB Terminology Task Group and has been approved by the FSSB. The FSSB recommends that subcommittees use OSAC Preferred Terms when drafting standards.
The OSAC Lexicon should be the primary resource for terminology and used when drafting and editing forensic science standards and other OSAC work products.
element
The interchangeable typeface carrier of a single element typewriter. See ball element, daisy wheel element, thimble element.
(SWGDOC E04-13)
element of interest
an element that can be found in a pGSR particle.
elevation angle
See vertical angle.
elimination database
Searchable collection of elimination profiles
elimination database
Searchable collection of elimination profiles.
elimination impressions, photographs, and/or items
Footwear or tires, or recordings of footwear outsoles or tire treads, from known sources for the purpose of comparing to the questioned impressions.
elimination profile
DNA profile from an individual whose access, role, or activities might result in DNA contamination; includes profiles associated with consumables and positive controls; but not case-specific known DNA reference standards or exemplars
elimination profile
DNA profile from an individual whose access, role, or activities might result in DNA contamination; includes profiles associated with consumables and positive controls; but not case-specific known DNA reference standards or exemplars.
Eluent
Elution
embellishments
Flourishes, ornaments, paraphs, rubrics and underscores. It adds or extends strokes that are easily executed and are not essential to the recognition of the character or the word. (NIST HF)
embossment variation
Nonuniformity of the dry seal impression on the paper stock. It can be caused by the manner of application or by defects in the dry seal. (SWGDOC E08)
emission (of radiation)
Release of radiant energy. (CIE S 017/E:2011 ILV)
Empirical Data
Factual data that is based on actual measurement, observation or direct sensory experience rather than on theory.
empty magnification
Occurs when the image continues to be enlarged, but no additional detail is resolved.
Emulsion
Emulsion Explosive
Endian (Big Or Little)
Endoparasite
An organism that lives in (internal) another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
Energetic
Energetic Material
Energy
A property of matter manifested as an ability to perform work, either by moving an object against a force or by transferring heat.
Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS, EDXA, EDX)
Enhance
Enhancement
Enhancement
enhancement
A process to reveal, intensify, magnify, or clarify an observation. Image enhancement is the process of adjusting a digital image, making it more suitable for display or further image analysis. For example, sharpening or brightening an image.
Enroll
Entire Joint Image (EJI)
An exemplar image containing all four full-finger views for a single finger.(See Figure 4)
Entrainment
The process of air or gases being drawn into a fire, plume, or jet.
Environmental Conditioning
See acclimation.
environmental control
specimen(s) used to demonstrate that the collection or analysis environment is free of pGSR.
Environmental Enrichment
The process of improving the mental and physical welfare of animals by providing behavioral choices through enhancements to their environment.
Environmental Soundness
The ability of the canine to work, maneuver, search and rest in various conditions of noise, odor, surfaces without demonstrating fear or anxiety.
Environmental Training/Testing
Instruction and evaluation procedures used to teach a canine to work, and determine whether a canine can work, in a variety of operational environments with increasing biological and physical complexity, which may distract or inhibit the canine from work. The training and testing, respectively, are designed to teach the canine to work, and assure that the canine can work, in a variety of operational environments, some of which may be extreme.
Enzyme
A catalytic protein that can speed up a specific chemical reaction without being changed or consumed in the process.
epsilon (ε)
any vibration direction in the plane of the c axis for uniaxial crystals.
equal and national treatment
treatment accorded to products, services or processes originating in other countries that is no less favourable than that accorded to like products, services or processes of national origin, or originating in any other country, in a comparable situation
equal treatment
treatment accorded to products, services or processes from one supplier that is no less favourable than that accorded to like products, services or processes from any other supplier, in a comparable situation
Equipment
equivalence/equivalence of conformity assessment results
sufficiency of different conformity assessment results to provide the same level of assurance of conformity with regard to the same specified requirements (5.1)
Note 1 to entry: The expression “conformity assessment result” signifies the output of any conformity assessment activity (e.g. a report or certificate) and can include a finding of nonconformity.
erasure
The area where material has been removed from a document by chemical, abrasive, or other means. (SWGDOC E03) (ANSI/ASB 035)
Escape Peak
Escape Peak
Escape Training
A conditioning technique in which the subject canine learns to escape or terminate an unpleasant stimulus.
Escape/Escape Behavior
The relationship between a performance and an aversive stimulus in which the performance terminates the aversive stimulus.
estimate/estimation
An approximation derived from a statistical sample of a population.
Estimated Age Interval
The estimated age interval expresses the mathematically determined minimum and maximum associated age range at a particular level of uncertainty.
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (Eva)
euhedral
well-formed crystals bounded by plane faces.