-blast. A suffix meaning an immature precursor cell of the type indicated by the preceding word. [G. blastos, germ]. immature precursor cell type; the cell type is denoted by the preceding syllables, e.g. osteoblast.
(plural defining moments) A moment in time that defines something, such as a person's success or failure, achievement or demise, talent, etc. A point at which the essential nature or character of a person, group, etc., is revealed or identified.
The concept of moment in physics is derived from the mathematical concept of moments. . The principle of moments is derived from Archimedes' discovery of the operating principle of the lever. In the lever one applies a force, in his day most often human muscle, to an arm, a beam of some sort. Archimedes noted that the amount of force applied to the object, the moment of force, is defined as M = rF, where F is the applied force, and r is the distance from the applied force to object.